"Contestants are allowed to attack and eliminate each other?"
That announcement hit the crowd of freshmen like a thunderclap.
The plaza erupted in nervous murmurs.
"Wouldn't that mean someone could actually die in there?!"
"If we don't carry a Resurrection Badge… we could die for real?"
Indeed, death inside the Secret Realm wasn't just a game. Whether you were killed by a monster—or another player—it had real consequences.
Even those who did bring a Resurrection Badge weren't in the clear. Each badge cost 50,000 yuan to replace—enough to buy a full set of rare-grade Level 20 gear.
This wasn't just a test anymore. It was a dangerous battlefield.
And now, with open PvP allowed, the Secret Realm had essentially turned into a gladiatorial arena. A place to raise the strongest through conflict.
Whispers spread like wildfire. More than a thousand participants, many armed and eager to prove themselves, would now be free to eliminate rivals with no warning.
The fear was real.
"Silence!"
The crowd instantly quieted as the old headmaster stepped forward again, his voice echoing across the plaza.
"This Battle for the Secret Realm will last three hours. And no, we will not let you die in vain."
He raised his hand, and dozens of instructors appeared, carrying trays filled with glowing stones.
"These are temporary resurrection stones, each effective for twelve hours. You will be revived inside the realm if defeated. No loss of items, no financial cost. You may thank the research faculty later."
A collective sigh of relief spread through the plaza.
At least they wouldn't lose a fortune—or their lives.
Students eagerly accepted the Secret Realm teleportation stones and their resurrection tokens. The tension didn't vanish entirely, but the fear of actual death had been lifted.
Still, the old principal had more to say.
"Although combat is allowed, you will not earn points by eliminating other players."
That news deflated a few would-be player-killers.
Instead, he explained: all points must be earned by defeating monsters within the Secret Realm. Eliminating a player only stops their point progress.
In other words: you could knock someone out of the rankings—but you couldn't steal their score.
This rule clearly favored less powerful students, allowing them to survive longer and form alliances to remove top contenders, preventing a single powerhouse from dominating unchecked.
It also meant cunning players could sabotage their rivals strategically.
The entire competition was no longer just about killing monsters. It was now a psychological war.
Lucas, standing off to the side, clicked his tongue.
"Tch... a battle royale and monster hunt rolled into one," he muttered. "This competition system… definitely favors groups."
He stared down at his teleportation stone, sighing.
"I'm solo. If I get targeted by a group... it won't be pretty."
If this had just been about farming monsters, Lucas was confident he could crush every one of them—even full five-man S-Rank teams.
But when players teamed up to gang up on someone?
That was a different beast entirely.
Especially when those players were jealous or vindictive.
He could already feel hostile eyes watching him from all sides.
Well, he had asked for it.
After all, he had boldly declared at orientation that he would take the number one spot.
That single arrogant sentence had painted a giant red target on his back.
---
Just then, a group approached him.
"Lucas..."
It was Amelia Su, accompanied by her teammates.
She looked anxious. "Come with us. We can protect each other."
She remembered too well how Lucas had stood up for her when others gossiped. Now, with the stakes higher than ever, she wanted to return the favor.
"Yeah," added Alexis Lane, her ice mage teammate, glancing at Lucas with a conflicted expression. "Going in alone is suicide."
Lucas smiled faintly. "I'd love to, really... but it won't work."
He held up his teleportation stone. "Once we activate these, we'll be randomly teleported somewhere on the edge of the Secret Realm."
They all blinked.
"Wait... seriously?" Amelia asked.
Lucas nodded. "There's no way to pre-group or enter together. Otherwise, top-tier players would team up and sweep everyone."
It made sense. The school clearly wanted to level the playing field. Random spawns meant random survival.
Amelia's expression fell.
Alexis was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Makes sense. The stronger players would dominate otherwise."
"How about... we set a meeting point?" Amelia asked.
Lucas chuckled and gently tapped her forehead. "What? No confidence in me?"
"I'm the strongest guy here, remember?"
He said it with a grin, trying to lift her spirits, but his tone carried quiet confidence.
"If I do run into a team," he added, "I won't be the one getting eliminated."
Amelia bit her lip and lowered her head. She knew he was strong—but this wasn't just about strength.
Now, even an unlucky ambush could ruin everything.
If Lucas got crowd-controlled or stunned, even he could be instantly focused and taken out.
Still, he wasn't worried.
And that confidence was contagious.
"You just focus on your own match," Lucas told her. "We're still competitors, after all. You're aiming for the championship too, aren't you?"
Amelia hesitated... then nodded with determination. "I won't lose."
Her teammates, watching nearby, finally looked relieved.
They had feared she might go soft because of Lucas.
But Amelia Su wasn't someone who backed down.
Alexis Lane, too, looked at Lucas with renewed focus.
She wanted to beat him. Just once.
---
"Boss Lucas!"
Two more familiar faces appeared—Zach Darnell and his loud-mouthed buddy Noah Chen.
"If we run into you in the Secret Realm," Zach joked, "can you go easy on us?"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Please. Just don't get in my way."
Noah raised his hands. "We wouldn't dare!"
Despite the jokes, both of them were clearly nervous. They knew Lucas was a monster, especially in a solo setting.
Even Zhao Qinghe, the normally reserved summoner, walked over and offered a few polite words before heading back to his group.
Everyone was starting to realize: this wasn't about friendship anymore.
Lucas watched them go, then took a deep breath.
This was it.
"Do your best," he told himself. "No regrets."
---
Up on the observation platform, guild leaders watched closely.
Jade Walker stood at the railing, arms crossed.
"Let's see if the boy lives up to the hype," she murmured.
Beside her, Alexis Lane silently updated her laptop, already tracking participant energy levels through the guild's linked monitoring software.
Logan Barrett, seated in the opposite section, leaned forward, watching the portal with interest.
Down below, the headmaster raised his arm once more.
"Then, students—I hereby declare the Battle for the Secret Realm... has officially begun!"
The teleportation stones in every student's hand suddenly lit up with blinding blue light.
A flash. A rush of air.
And then—they were gone.
Vanished from the plaza.
Sent into the heart of the Secret Realm.
The war had begun.
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