Snow continued to fall over the academy grounds, heavier now than before Christmas. The white blanket over the buildings and courtyards reflected the cold light of morning, and the air was sharp, tinged with frost that bit at the ears and cheeks. Hiko Shinoegami adjusted the collar of his coat, stepping carefully over the crunching snow toward the main hall. The smell of smoke from the hearths inside was faint but comforting.
But comfort was fleeting.
Inside the hall, students were gathering in clusters, chatting, laughing, or shivering in their coats. The festive lights from the Christmas tree still lingered, glinting faintly in the corner of the room, remnants of last week's celebrations. But the mood was different. Winter break had ended, and the academy's rhythm was returning to its usual grind.
Rougen Leo stood at the front of the hall, his coat black against the white walls, expression unreadable. He held a staff lightly in one hand, tapping it against the floor as he scanned the students.
"Everyone," he said, voice calm but carrying a weight that silenced the room. "I hope your Christmas break was… enlightening."
A chorus of groans immediately followed.
"Christmas break just ended… and already we have more training?!"
"Why does it feel like we never get a rest?"
"This is cruel…"
Rougen ignored the murmurs. "Your next examination begins tomorrow."
The room fell silent.
Hiko tilted his head. Examination? Already?
Rougen continued. "It is a practical exam. Obstacle Course. You will navigate a large course designed to test agility, endurance, combat ability, and your ability to respond to unexpected situations."
Murmurs spread quickly.
"Obstacle… and combat?"
"Do we fight while running?"
"Sounds like a death sentence…"
Rougen's expression hardened slightly. "Yes. While moving through the course, you will face beasts of varying grades. Grade 1 through Grade 3. You will need to parkour across unstable platforms, walls, ledges, and suspended ropes while fending off attacks. And obstacles will not wait for you. They will move, shift, and strike. Falling is not an option."
The students froze, imagining the challenge.
"And," Rougen continued, voice lowering, "I regret to say—though this is standard procedure—the student who finishes last will be expelled. You will have one attempt. No exceptions. Failure is not tolerated."
Gasps and wide-eyed stares erupted.
"Expelled?! Seriously?!"
"No way… I can't even survive a Grade 3 beast if I'm running!"
"This is insane…"
Hiko's hands tightened into fists beneath his coat. The Devil's presence stirred faintly inside his mind. Ah… now it gets interesting.
Rougen raised a hand, silence falling again. "This is not meant to scare you. It is meant to prepare you for reality. In the field, there is no second chance. Survival depends on your ability to act decisively under stress. That is what this test simulates."
Leto muttered to the student next to him, voice trembling, "Simulates…? This isn't a simulation, this is actual… punishment."
Rougen continued. "Tomorrow, the course will be set up in the northern training grounds. Platforms of wood, suspended ropes, climbing walls, unstable ledges, and enchanted obstacles—some will move on their own. Additionally, creatures have been placed strategically. You will encounter one Grade 3 beast somewhere in the course, as well as multiple Grade 2 and 1 beasts scattered throughout. No student will have the same experience. Randomized encounters will test adaptability."
Some students paled. Others clenched their teeth, preparing mentally.
Hiko's thoughts drifted. So it's not just endurance or speed. Reflexes. Combat. Strategy. Observation. I need to plan carefully…
The devil stirred quietly. You already know your advantage, don't you?
Hiko responded mentally. I do. But I need to see how everyone else moves first.
Rougen tapped his staff lightly. "Today will be training. You will familiarize yourself with the course layout, the types of obstacles, and basic combat techniques while moving. Tomorrow, the full examination begins. Everyone is required to participate."
A student groaned. "Christmas break just ended… and now this?"
Goru, however, grinned. "Good. This is better than sitting around."
Hiko observed quietly as students began pairing up or moving toward the training field. Snow crunched under their feet as they formed groups, discussing strategies, practicing jumps, or tossing snow at each other to relieve tension.
Rougen gestured toward the northern training grounds. "Move quickly. Time is limited. Observe the obstacles, the patterns, the creatures. Tomorrow, hesitation will cost you everything."
The training ground stretched wide under the snowy sky. Platforms of wood, ropes, and stone protruded from the ground at varying angles. Suspended ledges swayed lightly in the wind, while some platforms were enchanted to shift when stepped on. Trees were placed strategically, their branches low, covered in snow, ready to trip anyone who miscalculated.
Hiko approached the first obstacle cautiously: a series of wooden planks suspended over a deep pit. The boards wobbled slightly under his weight. A small Grade 1 beast, resembling a wolf with dark fur and faint glowing runes, padded across the platform ahead of him. It growled, eyes tracking his movements.
Hiko shifted his weight, eyes narrowing. With careful steps, he advanced, jumping over gaps, sidestepping low branches, and landing silently behind the wolf. A brief flick of his hand sent a gust of mana to destabilize its footing, and it stumbled, allowing him to continue forward.
Nearby, Leto struggled to cross a rope bridge. The ropes swayed dangerously, and he nearly fell when a Grade 2 beast—a fox-like creature with icy claws—appeared at the far end. Goru called out instructions, helping him maintain balance and focus, his own movements agile and precise.
Rougen observed silently from the edge of the course, occasionally gesturing to correct form or posture. "Do not rely solely on strength," he said, voice carrying clearly. "Your balance, timing, and observation are more important. Predict the environment, anticipate the beasts, and adapt."
Some students quickly realized that brute force alone would not carry them through the course. Others panicked at the moving obstacles or the shifting platforms, their movements clumsy, costing them precious seconds.
Hiko paused atop a moving platform, eyes scanning ahead. A Grade 3 beast—towering, armored, with glowing red eyes—was stationed near a series of collapsing ledges. Students nearby struggled to bypass it, falling into the snow below or being forced to retreat.
Inside his mind, the devil whispered. Observe first. Jump second. Attack third. You already know what to do.
Hiko nodded faintly. Right. I'll go carefully… but decisively.
He tested the timing of the collapsing ledges, noting the rhythm and the swing of the platforms. Then, with a controlled leap, he advanced, landing near the Grade 3 beast. Its eyes snapped toward him, roaring, but he anticipated its movement perfectly, sidestepping and landing beyond its reach. The devil stirred faintly. Efficient. You might even enjoy this.
Hiko didn't respond aloud. He focused, moving like water across the obstacles, calculating each jump, each dodge, each step.
Meanwhile, other students practiced aggressively, some colliding with each other in their haste. Leto managed to cross a difficult series of planks after multiple failed attempts, breathing heavily but smiling with relief. Goru practiced combat coordination with a moving platform, testing his jumps while striking dummies with precise mana bursts.
Rougen raised his staff at the end of the first trial. "Enough. Assess your performance. Remember, tomorrow there are no do-overs. Hesitation, mistakes, or misjudgment will cost you dearly. Failure is unacceptable."
The students exhaled, some leaning heavily against walls or platforms, exhausted but energized. The snow continued to fall, turning the academy grounds into a glittering white battlefield under the gray sky.
Hiko walked quietly to the edge of the training area, observing. His mind analyzed the obstacles, the beasts, the patterns. He felt the faint pull of the Devil's Mark beneath his collar, its presence stirring with excitement.
Tomorrow… I'll need precision, strategy, and timing. And endurance.
The devil whispered softly. And your limits? Don't forget them.
Hiko tilted his head. I won't.
He exhaled, watching his classmates struggle, learn, and adapt. Some would fail tomorrow. Some would thrive. And at the end of it all… one would be expelled.
The stakes were high. The tension, palpable.
And Hiko Shinoegami, Hero of Devils, silently prepared himself for the challenge ahead.