Dormitory C – Morning
The sun rose. The birds chirped.
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
In Room 302, Yu Tianheng woke up with a gasp. He sat up, his heart pounding. He looked at the clock.
"7:00 AM," he whispered in horror. "OH NO.I overslept! Arthev is going to kill me. He is going to make me run with a tree."
He scrambled out of bed, grabbing his iron vest. He hopped on one leg, trying to put on his pants, and rushed into the hallway.
SMACK
There, he collided with Osler, who was also rushing out, holding one boot and a piece of toast.
"OOF! We're late!" Osler panicked. "He's going to use the rubber bands! I can't go back to the slingshot!"
The door to Room 304 opened. The Graphite Brothers stumbled out, already wearing their heavy vests.
"Move!" Shi Mo yelled. "Formation! If we are late, we do squats until our legs fall off!"
"URGH.....my legs already fell off!" Shi Mu whined.
The terrified elites stampeded down the stairs and burst into the courtyard. They lined up in perfect formation, chests heaving, waiting for the demon instructor.
But the courtyard was empty.
No Arthev. No resistance bands. No heavy crates.
Just a gentle breeze rolling a tumbleweed across the grass.
"Huh? Where is he?" Dugu Yan asked, arriving a second later with her hair half-brushed. "Is he hiding? Is this a stealth drill?"
"Maybe he's in the tree," Yu Feng whispered, scanning the branches. "He likes high ground."
"I am right here," a calm voice said from behind them.
The team spun around, assuming combat stances.
Arthev was sitting on a bench. He wasn't wearing his training gear. He was wearing loose, comfortable robes. He held a cup of tea in one hand and a bag of birdseed in the other.
"What...." Yu Tianheng froze.
"Why are you wearing the vests?" Arthev asked, tossing some seeds to a pigeon.
"Because... training?" Yu Tianheng said, confused.
"Sigh. I told you yesterday," Arthev sipped his tea. "Today is a rest day. Take them off."
The team stood there. They looked at each other. They looked at Arthev.
"Take... them... off?" Osler repeated slowly. "Is this a test? If we take them off, do you hit us with a log?"
Arthev sighed. "No logs. No hits. Today, your only mission is to lower your cortisol levels. Go change into comfortable clothes. We are going to the lake."
"Ooh! To swim laps?" Shi Mo asked hopefully.
"To sit," Arthev corrected. "And do absolutely nothing."
The team looked terrified. Doing nothing sounded harder than running.
-------
The Lake – Noon
The academy lake was peaceful. Willow trees dipped their branches into the water. Koi fish swam lazily near the surface.
The Royal Team sat on the grass. They looked miserable.
Yu Tianheng was twitching. His leg was bouncing up and down uncontrollably.
"Urgh. Stop vibrating, Captain," Arthev said without opening his eyes. He was lying on his back, hands behind his head.
"I can't help it," Yu Tianheng gritted out. "My body wants to hit something. I feel... soft."
"That is recovery," Arthev explained. "Your muscles are knitting themselves back together. If you move, you tear the stitches."
Nearby, Osler was trying to do push-ups using only his fingers behind a bush.
Grunt. Grunt. Grunt.
"Osler," Arthev called out. "If I see you exercise one more time, I will double your weight tomorrow."
"ACK!" Osler collapsed instantly. "I was just... checking for bugs! With my face!"
The Bushes – Fifty Meters Away
Spark, wearing a gardener's outfit and holding a pair of shears, was watching them through a pair of binoculars.
"What are they doing?" Spark whispered into his comms. "They are just lying there. It's been two hours. Nobody has moved."
In the library, Whisper paused. "Hmm. Are they channeling energy?"
"Ugh! No," Spark squinted. "The turtle guy is sleeping. He is drooling. And the bird guy is making a flower crown."
"A flower crown?" Whisper's voice was cold. "Is it a ritualistic arrangement?"
"It looks like daisies," Spark said. "Wait. Arthev is moving."
Arthev sat up. He reached into a basket.
"Target active!" Spark hissed. "He is retrieving a device!"
Arthev pulled out... a sandwich.
"False alarm," Spark sighed. "It's ham and cheese."
"Do not underestimate the sandwich," Whisper lectured. "Observe how he eats it. Does he consume the crust?"
"Uh...He cut the crust off," Spark reported.
"Meticulous," Whisper noted. "He removes the unnecessary. A perfectionist."
Spark groaned. "ARRGH.This is so boring. I'm going to throw a rock at them."
"Negative," Whisper ordered. "You are a gardener. Prune a bush."
Spark angrily snipped a rosebush. Snip. Snip. "Take that, nature. Take that."
------
The Lake – Afternoon
"Arthev," Ye Lingling asked softly. She was sitting next to him, hugging her knees.
"Mm?"
"Why do you push us so hard?" she asked. "We are already the best in the academy. Why do we need to suffer?"
Arthev finished his sandwich. He looked at the water.
"Because the world is not this academy," he said. "Out here, there are rules. Referees. Teachers to stop the fight if it gets too dangerous."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Out there," he pointed toward the distant mountains, "there are no referees. There are only predators and prey. I am making sure you are not prey."
The team went silent. The mood shifted from awkward boredom to solemn reflection.
"Oh..." Dugu Yan murmured.
"Is that why we are going to Phase 2?" Yu Tianheng asked.
Arthev nodded. "The gym is safe. The track is flat. Real fights happen on uneven ground, in the rain, when you haven't slept for two days."
He stood up and dusted off his robes.
"Enjoy the sunset," Arthev said. "Because tomorrow morning, we leave."
"Leave?" Dugu Yan asked. "To where?"
"The Star Dou Great Forest," Arthev announced.
The team perked up. "Ooh! Hunting soul beasts?" Shi Mo asked, cracking his knuckles. "Finally, some action!"
"No," Arthev smiled. "We are not hunting. We are existing."
He held up three fingers.
"Rule one: No Third Soul Skills. You rely on body and basics."
"Rule two: No money. We eat what we catch."
"Rule three: No teacher support. Qin Ming will not help you unless you are dying."
Osler raised his hand. "Uh...Define dying. Like... a little bit dying? Or a lot dying?"
"If your heart stops, we will intervene," Arthev clarified. "Otherwise, figure it out."
"...I'm going to die," Osler whispered.
'Cruel,' Shukaku laughed in his mind. 'Throwing city kids into the jungle. I love it.'
'It is necessary,' Matatabi agreed. 'They are strong, but they are domesticated. They need to become wild.'
-------
The Kitchens – Night
Spark was scrubbing a massive pot. His arms were tired. His soul was tired.
"Ugh...Whisper," he grumbled. "They are leaving tomorrow. Star Dou Forest. Field trip."
"Hmm. Interesting," Whisper's voice came back.
"The forest is uncontrolled. It is the perfect place to test his abilities without holding back. Or to meet with a contact."
"Ooh! Are we following?" Spark asked, hope rising in his voice. "Camping trip?"
"We cannot leave our posts yet," Whisper said. "We have contracts. However..."
There was a pause.
"I have placed a marker on the student's bag," Whisper revealed. "We can track them remotely. If Arthev does anything suspicious like visit a hidden ruin or pull a magical artifact out of thin air, we will know."
"Fine," Spark kicked the pot. "But if they come back with cool souvenirs and I'm still peeling potatoes, I'm blowing up the pantry."
"You will do no such thing."
"...Maybe just a small explosion?"
"No."
"...Fine."
--------
The Next Morning – The Departure
The Royal Team stood at the academy gates. They weren't wearing their fancy uniforms. They wore rugged leather gear.
Their bags were packed.
They looked nervous.
Arthev stood at the front. He looked at Qin Ming.
"Are they ready?" Qin Ming asked.
"Physically? Yes," Arthev said. "Mentally? We will see."
"Lead the way, Arthev," Qin Ming nodded.
Arthev turned to the team.
"Forward," he commanded. "Destination: The Mixed Zone."
As they marched out, Arthev felt the familiar call of the wild. The city was useful for information, but the forest... the forest was home.
And somewhere deep in his mind, the Tailed Beasts were already placing bets on who would break first.
'My money is on the bird,' Shukaku said. 'He looks like he needs a pillow.'
'I bet on the snake girl,' Isobu bubbled. 'She hates dirt.'
'I bet on Arthev,' Matatabi purred. 'He will not make it quick.'
Arthev smirked. All valid bets.
"Hey, Arthev!" Osler jogged up to him.
"Since we're surviving... did you bring the honey mustard?"
Arthev patted his bag. "Priorities, Osler. Priorities."
To be continued....