The Invincible Young Master

As time passed in the outer sector, one day, a noticed arrived calling for a gathering. The summon was abrupt, breaking the monotonous routine of the outer sector.

The boy stood among a small gathering of his peers, their tattered robes and weary faces a stark contrast to the grandeur of the inner sect.

Before them, an elder with a grizzled beard and a hardened expression spoke with clipped indifference.

"There have been disturbances near the city," the elder began, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Your task is to hunt and eliminate the beasts causing the trouble. It's an opportunity to earn merit and resources, if you return."

A low murmur rippled through the group. For outer sector students like them, this was a rare chance to prove themselves, but the danger was undeniable.

Excitement and dread flickered in their eyes as they exchanged uneasy glances.

The elder raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "A team of inner sector students will accompany you."

The boy's chest tightened. His gaze shifted toward the approaching inner sector students, their pristine robes gleaming under the sun.

They walked with an air of superiority, their faces adorned with smug grins that hinted at scorn.

The boy caught the leader's sharp eyes, filled with disdain, and the mocking sneers of the others.

He clenched his fists, swallowing the words threatening to spill out.

They wouldn't try anything reckless... would they?

He resolved to stay on guard, his instincts prickling with unease.

…

The group ventured into the forest, the towering trees casting deep shadows that swallowed what little light seeped through the canopy.

The outer sector students moved cautiously, their weapons at the ready. Though their training was basic, desperation honed their coordination.

Together, they hunted, taking down a few mid-tier beasts with efficient, if unpolished, teamwork.

Despite his lack of talent, the boy's physical training paid off. His strikes were precise, his endurance unmatched as he lunged, dodged, and countered.

The satisfaction of success flickered within him, momentarily overshadowing his doubts.

On the forest's edge, the inner sector students watched lazily, their arms crossed and expressions bored.

Occasionally, they barked instructions, but they made no effort to assist. Their arrogance aggravated at the boy, but he forced himself to focus on the task at hand.

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Hours passed before the leader of this inner sector students group, a tall youth with sharp features and a smirk that didn't reach his eyes, finally spoke. "We're moving deeper. Follow me."

The boy frowned, glancing at the carcasses of the beasts they had already slain. "The task is complete. This area is clear."

The leader's gaze turned icy. "Are you questioning my judgment?"

Biting back a retort, the boy nodded reluctantly, his unease growing.

Why push us further?

As they advanced, the forest thickened, the trees closing in with twisted branches that seemed to grasp at the group. The air grew dense and heavy, the sunlight above fading into a dim, otherworldly gloom. The silence was deafening, broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot.

"This doesn't feel right," whispered the boy his brows frowning. "Are we even in the same forest anymore?"

The leader scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "Stop whining. This is the correct path. Keep moving."

The boy's fist tightened, his wariness sharpening into suspicion. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, catching subtle signs, a series of deep claw marks etched into a tree, a dark smear of dried blood on the ground. The boy noticed, this place was not just eerie, it was also dangerous.

As the group pushed on, the boy's gaze flickered to the inner sector students. Their smirks and nonchalant demeanor did not fool him.

The subtle glances they exchanged, the way they always stayed a step ahead of the outer sector group, and the faint smugness in their expressions all pointed to something unsettling.

A chilling realization crept into his mind.

Could they have brought us here on purpose?

The oppressive stillness of the forest pressed against him like a weight. His instincts screamed at him to be ready, to anticipate the worst. His senses heightened as he scanned every shadow, every rustle in the underbrush.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the depths of the forest. The group froze, their eyes darting around for the source of the sound. The inner sector leader's smirk grew sharper, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Keep moving," he ordered.

The boy's unease turned to cold certainty.

This is a trap.

The oppressive atmosphere grew thicker as they continued on, the forest seeming to close in around them.

With every step, the boy felt his pulse quicken, his knuckles white. If danger struck, he would not be caught unprepared.

The boy's instincts warned him to stay alert, but even his guarded nature could not prepare him for the brutal betrayal that followed. It was swift, cruel, and without mercy.

A fist slammed into his back, driving the air from his lungs. He doubled over, only for another blow to catch him across the face, sending him sprawling onto the forest floor.

He faintly saw it was one of the outer sector student.

Before he could recover, kicks and punches rained down on him. The inner sector students surrounded him like a pack of predators, their sneering faces full of contempt.

"You were watching us the whole time, weren't you?" one of them taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Thought you were clever, didn't you?"

The boy struggled to push himself up, his breaths ragged. Blood dripped from his split lip as he glared at them. "I knew... you were up to something."

Even the outer sector students, his supposed peers, joined in. Their faces were void of remorse as they turned on him, eager to align with the stronger group.

The betrayal stung more than the physical pain. These were the same people he had trained alongside, shared meager meals with, and endured hardship together.

Pinned against a tree, his body battered and bruised, he spat out blood and lifted his head defiantly.

"Who... ordered this?" he asked, his voice weak. "If you're going to kill me, at least let me know why."

One of the inner sector students crouched in front of him, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.

"Why not tell you? You're as good as dead anyway." He leaned closer, his voice low but sharp. "The inner sector elder gave the order."

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The boy's eyes darkened with understanding. Of course. They wanted him gone. He knew he was holding her back.

Bitterness surged through him at the thought, but he refused to let his despair show.

"Why wait?" he spat, his voice steady despite the tremor in his limbs. "Just finish it."

The student laughed coldly. "Oh, we won't kill you. That would be messy. No, we'll let the beasts do it for us."

The boy realized this was planned from the beginning. If the beast killed him, when they present his corpse, it would appear like he had bad luck and died to a beast, there wouldn't be much fuss about his death.

As if summoned by the words, a distant roar echoed through the forest. The ground trembled faintly, and an oppressive aura filled the air.

The students exchanged uneasy glances as another roar, louder this time, reverberated through the trees.

"What was that?" one of the outer sector students whispered, his bravado crumbling.

A lookout near the edge of the group paled and shouted, "Not good! A high-ranked beast is coming!"

Panic spread instantly. The inner sector students, who had seemed so confident moments before, turned tail and fled without hesitation. Their elegant robes vanished into the forest, their arrogance replaced by fear.

The outer sector students also bolted their faces pale with terror. Within moments, the boy was alone.

He lay there for a moment, his body aching and his mind racing. The distant roars were growing louder, accompanied by the sound of snapping branches and the rumble of something massive drawing closer. Every instinct screamed at him to move.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet. Pain flared with every movement, but he stumbled forward, leaning on the tree for support.

Blood dripped from his wounds, leaving a trail behind him, but he pushed on.

If I stay here, I'm dead.

The forest seemed darker now, the shadows shifting unnaturally as the beast drew nearer. Each step was agony, but the boy's determination burned brighter than the pain.

As he pushed through the dense underbrush, the trees began to thin. Relief surged through him as he emerged into a clearing.

But that relief vanished when he realized what lay ahead, a steep ridge, its jagged cliffs plunging into an endless abyss.

He staggered to the edge, his heart sinking.

No way forward.

A deep, guttural growl froze him in place.

Slowly, he turned to see a massive wolf-like beast emerging from the shadows. Its fur bristled with dark energy, and its glowing claws scraped the ground with a chilling sound.

Its golden eyes locked onto him, full of hunger and malice.

The boy backed toward the cliff, his legs trembling.

Better to fall than to be torn apart.

Steeling himself, he prepared to jump.

But the beast moved first.

With terrifying speed, it pounced, its claws raking across his back and slamming him to the ground.

Pain erupted through his body as the creature's weight pinned him, crushing what little strength he had left.

His vision blurred, the edges darkening. This was the end.

But then, a sharp cracking sound shattered the air.

The beast froze, its ears twitching as the ground beneath them began to shift. The boy barely registered what was happening as the ridge trembled violently.

Cracks snaked along the ground, spreading out beneath him and the beast.

A heartbeat later, the cliff gave way.

The boy felt himself falling, the sensation surreal and weightless.

The beast's howls echoed in the void as they plummeted together, swallowed by the darkness.