Nami was pretty sure many would die today.

The end of the cavern was extremely well-lit, much better than the rest of the Placid Cave.

It had opened into a large platform that stood a few hundred feet on top of the water below.

They had reached this sort of plateau after almost all students had boarded their Mana Boards—and those who hadn’t been able to conjure one had gone back, escorted by a senior.

They had successfully cleared all the Torpedo Snappers along the way and Nami had thought she would have perhaps gotten some extra points by the time Mira would have come back, especially given how well she had led this mission.

But there were no more seniors to report on what she had accomplished.

They were all dead.

Six students lay on the ground, staining it red, cut in pieces so thin they were all impossible to distinguish from one another.

The students who had made it to the back of the cave, instead of a reward, had been ambushed by a large gathering of semi-evolved Torpedo Snappers.

Nami looked at one of the many surrounding them.

[Mutated Torpedo Snapper - Level 23]

She could have faced one or maybe two.

But even with her background as one of the main descendants of the Moana Family, she would have died a terrible death to these monsters as soon as they would pounce.

The remaining students huddled together in fear, their eyes wide with terror as they stared at the monstrosities surrounding them.

The half-evolved Torpedo Snappers circled menacingly, their elongated bodies twisting unnaturally.

Vestigial limbs sprouted from their sides, and their gaping maws had both sharp and jagged teeth all over, scattered as if someone had randomly sprinkled them in it, some teeth so displaced that they were outside their jaw, on their lips or closed to the slits of their noses.

We’re completely outmatched, Nami thought grimly. Even with all of us working together, we don’t stand a chance against so many high-level monsters.

Nami was grateful that Lilo had actually not followed them yet.

If she, Nami, her Shield, and the rest of Lilo’s Retinue would die here, the Chosen of the Moana Family would still be able to carry on their legacy.

The only thing keeping the Snappers at bay was a lone figure standing between the students and certain death.

A man with long, dark hair that fell past his shoulders stood motionless, holding an obsidian blade that seemed to drink in what little light there was in the plateau.

His very presence exuded an aura of danger that made Nami’s skin crawl.

This was the man who had killed the senior students without blinking. He was the only reason why the monsters hadn’t pounced on them already.

“Well now,” the man said, his voice surprisingly smooth, “it seems you children have gotten yourselves into quite the predicament.”

Nami felt a chill run down her spine.

The man stepped forward, his obsidian blade catching the faint light. His dark hair framed a sharp, cold face. His eyes scanned the frightened students with an unsettling calm.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said, his voice smooth and even. “I am Awa, though some know me as the Sword Demon.”

A murmur rippled through the group. The name was legendary—one of the most famous swordsmen in existence and the most evil one.

Nami’s heart pounded.

What was someone like him doing here?

“You’ve stumbled into a dangerous situation,” the Sword Demon continued, gesturing to the mutated Torpedo Snappers circling them. “But I’m willing to offer you an opportunity to save yourselves.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the students. Some even dared to hope they might survive this ordeal.

“All I require,” the Sword Demon said, pausing deliberately, “is a demonstration of your resolve.”

Nami’s relief turned to unease.

“What do you mean?” she asked, acting as the leader of the group.

Awa’s gaze settled on her briefly before addressing them all.

“It’s simple. Those among you who are willing to eliminate one of your companions will earn the right to leave here unharmed.”

A heavy silence fell.

Nami stared at him, disbelief mingling with horror.

He couldn’t be serious.

Surely, no one would consider such a thing.

“You can’t expect us to do that,” a student protested, his voice shaking.

The Sword Demon shrugged lightly.

“Expectation has nothing to do with it. The choice is yours. Survival often demands sacrifice. Do that, and you’ll be given an opportunity to join a better cause than the one you’re training for.”

Nami looked around, hoping to see agreement and unity.

But she saw only fear and confusion etched on their faces.

“We’re not going to turn on each other,” she said firmly.

The Sword Demon raised an eyebrow.

“Are you certain? Think carefully. I’m sure there are those among you who harbor grudges. Perhaps a noble who looks down on others or someone who’s made your life difficult. Petty criminals who disrupt harmony. Don’t act rashly, of course. Make it count.”

His words hung in the air, seeping into their thoughts.

Nami noticed a change in the atmosphere.

Some students were exchanging glances, their expressions hardening.

A boy to her left clenched his fists, glaring at another student who had often bullied him.

A girl near the back edged away from a group, her eyes wide with fear.

“Wait,” Nami urged. “Don’t listen to him. This isn’t right.”

But her plea seemed to falter.

The fear was palpable, and desperation was taking hold.

The Sword Demon watched them silently, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Your time is limited,” he said softly. “Show me your determination.”

A student stepped forward, drawing a dagger from his belt.

His eyes locked onto another boy who stood rigid, disbelief on his face.

“Takuro, what are you doing?” the boy asked, backing away.

“I’m sorry, Riku,” Takuro said, his voice strained. “But I can’t die here.”

This was spiraling out of control.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Stop!” she shouted. “He’s playing mind games on all of you!”

Around her, more students were making moves.

Some drew weapons, others backed away, eyes darting between potential threats.

A girl lunged at a classmate, tears streaming down her face.

“You’ve always looked down on me!” she cried out.

Chaos erupted.

Nami tried to intervene, but the crowd was ready to unravel into a slaughter.

The mutated Torpedo Snappers watched with eerie stillness as if entertained by the unfolding drama.

The Sword Demon stood still, his expression unreadable.

Desperate to stop the madness, Nami stepped between two students poised to fight.

“Listen to me!” she yelled. “This is what he wants. Don’t give in!”

One of them hesitated, lowering his weapon slightly.

But the other sneered.

“Move aside. I’m not going to die because of you.”

She glanced back at Awa, who met her eyes with a chilling gaze. This was a game to him—a twisted test.

“Please,” she begged.

But as she looked around, she saw resolve hardening in too many faces. Fear had given way to survival instincts.

The Sword Demon’s voice cut through the clamor.

“Only those willing to do what is necessary will walk away from this.”

Nami saw a student charged at another.

This was it.

All the first-year students who had just joined the Water Rider Academy this year were about to slaughter one another and then fall into the hands of Cultists.

Nami had been trained in many things by her family.

The Moana Family had made sure that she received the most extensive education in order to serve Lilo as best as she could.

However, they hadn’t been able to prepare her for this.

She wanted to stop the students and make sure they wouldn’t give in because of fear and become criminals like the Sword Demon on the other side of the rocky platform plateau.

But she also saw—she could actually almost smell the fear of the students.

And she understood it.

Death was much worse in their eyes than losing their honor as Water Riders.

It came then to Nami that the reason the Sword Demon must have made this offer to the first-year students and not the seniors was that seniors would have probably refused to comply.

By the last year in the Academy, they would have probably developed a much stronger sense of belonging than this set of fresh recruits.

Nami felt a surge of anger.

She couldn’t let him manipulate them like this.

Summoning all her courage, she prepared to intervene, hoping it wasn’t too late to restore reason even if she had to knock the students out herself.

But as the violence was about to break out, a girl’s voice suddenly made everyone turn to the side of the cave.

“STOP!”

The shout came primal and strong, giving everyone pause.

A bloodied girl emerged from the opening that rested right behind the Sword Demon.

Everyone turned to look at the girl who had shouted.

It was Talia, covered in blood and looking exhausted.

She stumbled into the cave, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.

“What’s going on here?” Talia asked, her voice shaking.

She looked at the students, some with weapons drawn, then at the scary man with the black sword.

Awa raised an eyebrow.

“Well, well. What do we have here?” he said, sounding interested.

Nami felt relief wash over her. Maybe Talia could help stop this madness.

“Talia! He’s the Sword Demon! Run!”

Talia looked at the semi-evolved Torpedo Snappers and then at the man with long hair and white irises.

“You’re Takai’s father,” she said matter-of-factly.

“You’re Yalena’s daughter,” he replied. “Well. I’m glad you delivered yourself. I was worried you might have done something foolish and lost us the most important life.”

The most important life? Talia frowned.

Hers?

And wait, how did he know her?

She overlooked the monsters and took a sharp breath.

Their levels are too high, Talia realized, then turned to the Sword Demon.

He’s too strong, even for Riala…

I need to buy time for Keanu and Takai…

“I know your son,” Talia said, wetting her lips, still slightly disoriented from Apikalia’s poison.

“Why don’t you start addressing me by name, child,” Awa smiled kindly. “Awa.”

“Awa,” Talia said, coughing. “I know your son.”

“I’m glad he’s got a powerful friend,” Awa said, unbothered. “Would you mind if I continued here and oversaw who’s about to die and who’s about to join us?”

“Join us?”

What does he mean by ‘us?’

“Right, my bad,” Awa smiled. “I told your fellow students that they can have their lives spared if they kill one person each.”

This is insane, Talia thought. How could things have gotten this bad? And why is Takai’s father behind all this?

She had known of his fame, but she had not actually known that he was a Cultist.

Moreso, if what he was saying was true, there could be a bloodshed right here and now before the monsters even attacked!

“You can’t do this,” Talia said, her voice stronger than she felt. “These are Water Rider students. They’re meant to protect people, not... not kill each other.”

Awa’s smile never wavered.

“Oh, but I can. And they will. It’s a simple matter of survival, child. A lesson every true Water Rider must learn eventually. I’m sure they can just pick someone they have a bone to pick with, right? I’m not saying we should engage in senseless slaughter, but they do need to prove they really want to save their life, at the very least. They can be trained for the rest later, but enthusiasm…”

He paused.

“Enthusiasm cannot be taught.”

Talia could feel the tension in the forearms of the people clutching their weapons, their doubt, and the temptation of having their lives saved by cutting down the first person they could.

“What do you gain from this? You’re already feared and respected. Why target students?”

“Me?” he mused. “It’s not about personal gain, child. It’s about reshaping the world. The current system is flawed and corrupt. These students will be fresh blood for our organization, just like you.”

Talia felt a chill run down her spine.

The conviction in Awa’s voice was terrifying.

He truly believed in what he was doing.

She glanced at the mutated Torpedo Snappers circling them. Their grotesque forms reminded her of the breeding chamber she and Fiora had discovered.

I need more time.

“The monsters,” she said slowly. “I saw the breeding nest above ground. I killed the Boss that was in front of the cave. This… the Mayor was on it, wasn’t he?”

“You’re really smart, aren’t you?” Awa smiled, not bothering to hide anything from the students. “Yes, we’ve found common ground with certain... like-minded individuals.”

“But why go to such extremes?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “Surely there are other ways to bring about change without resorting to murder and monsters.”

“Oh, this isn’t just about punishing that wild man,” Awa smiled, “I’m wrapping him up as a gift, in fact, for someone very dear to both of us.”

Both of us?

Talia frowned.

“My mom?” She asked, wondering if she had survived and joined the Cultists.

“My goodness, no,” Awa shook his head. “I’m not at liberty to say much more. Now, though, you’ve delayed the inevitable long enough. It’s time for these students to make their choice.”

“Wait, I—”

“Enough questions,” the Sword Demon said, his voice hardening.

Talia gritted her teeth and looked at the monsters, preparing to use [Ravenous Wounds].

It’s the only thing that could help here. The hybrids have some scratches on their snakish skin—maybe if the Skill found purchase…

She was trying to find a way to, at the very least, kill the monsters or stop some of them.

Awa, who had turned toward the students, giving her his back, turned toward her again.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. “Do not make me hurt you, child. No one would be happy about it, trust me.”

“I’m going to stop you!” Talia shouted desperately.

“Really? You and what army?”

Talia’s grip on her glaive trembled, and she moved a step forward under the not-so-amused gaze of the Sword Demon, who just shook his head.

“I’ll try not to make it hurt, then,” he said, gently raising his sword.

At a speed Talia couldn’t even comprehend, the man closed the distance between them, ready to smack the side of her head with the flat of his sword—just a tap for him, but enough to send her to sleep.

However, right when he was inches from her, a hand—a finger, stopped the sword dead in its tracks.

Awa’s eyes went wide as a furious aura erupted between him and the girl he was tasked to bring back.

“He sent you?” A laughing voice said.

Awa gritted his teeth, now grabbing the hilt of the sword with both hands, taking this extremely seriously.

“You!” Awa snarled.

The man in front of him didn’t even give him the time of the day, turning toward the girl behind him.

Talia raised her gaze to meet two deep blue eyes, different from hers but much kinder to her than she had ever seen them.

Not just kind.

Grateful.

“I will kill this cockroach,” Professor Iakopo smiled at her, “and then we’ll talk. Thank you for what you did.”

“I—”

“You think you can take me in front of all these students,” Awa said confidently. “You failed to protect Placid City twenty years ago because of your Space Water, Kane bastard! Are you going to kill your students to fight me?!”

Without waiting for a response, a thick, impenetrable curtain of black mist erupted from the black sword the man was wielding, swallowing the entire cave in a matter of seconds.

“And if you can’t use your Space Water, fool, you’re dying today!”

Talia couldn’t see anything, but she felt an extreme Mana pressure come from the black mist as if Awa could cut her into pieces at any moment, which he probably could.

“Twenty years have passed,” came Professor Iakopo’s voice. “And you called out my name, Sword Demon. You think I stood idle? You truly believed the rumors I spread?”

A thunderous boom pushed Talia’s back and dispersed a good chunk of mist surrounding the platform.

She saw a spiderweb of cracks where Professor Iakopo had stood moments before.

Then, as she raised her gaze, she saw an azure lightning flash in the impenetrable mist.

“You’re dying today, Sword Demon,” Professor Iakopo said. “You’re dying to the Chosen of the Kane Family.”

Another lightning flashed, painting the black mist of a deep azure.