The second day in the ruins began with a heavy fog.
Team 4 moved slowly through the wreckage of an old stadium. The mood was toxic. Yuna stayed ten meters away from Lin, flinching every time he looked at her. Cain was shouting orders, kicking debris out of his way. Borg plodded along like a silent golem.
"My tracker is picking up signals," Cain said, checking his wrist computer. "Another team is close. We should ambush them for points."
"Or," a voice boomed from the fog, "you could just hand over the trash and walk away."
Cain froze. Borg raised his shield.
Shadows materialized from the mist. Four students wearing matching tactical gear. Leading them was Zhao Hu. He held a heavy-barreled pulse rifle, aiming it casually at Cain's chest.
"Zhao Hu," Cain narrowed his eyes. "You're far from your drop zone."
"I paid a hacker 500 Credits to track a specific signal," Zhao Hu grinned, showing perfect white teeth. He pointed the rifle barrel at Lin, who was standing at the back of the formation. "I'm here for him. The F-Rank."
Lin looked at Zhao Hu. Then he looked at the three students behind Zhao Hu. Two Swordsmen. One Ranger. All Rank E (Mid). A full combat squad.
"What do you want with the baggage?" Cain asked, lowering his sword slightly.
"Personal business," Zhao Hu spat. "He insulted me. I'm going to break his legs and leave him for the rats. You have a problem with that, Cain?"
Cain looked at Zhao Hu's squad. Four combatants. Then he looked at his own team. A traumatized healer, a slow tank, and... Lin. Fighting Zhao Hu would mean injuries. Injuries meant failing the exam.
The calculation took Cain less than a second.
"No problem at all," Cain smirked. He stepped aside, opening the path to Lin. "Take him. He's useless anyway. Just don't get his blood on my boots."
Yuna gasped, but she didn't object. She looked at Lin with a mix of guilt and relief. If Zhao Hu kills him... I don't have to worry about him anymore. Borg lowered his shield, silently agreeing.
"Smart choice," Zhao Hu laughed. He walked forward, his boots crunching on the gravel. "See, Lin? No one wants you. You're alone."
Lin stood there, surrounded by the fog. His teammates had abandoned him. His enemies were closing in. Most F-Rankers would be begging for mercy right now.
But Lin sighed. It was a long, disappointed sigh.
He reached up and took off his thick-rimmed glasses—the ones he wore to look harmless. He put them in his pocket. Then he straightened his back. The slouch was gone. The fear was gone.
"Cain," Lin said softly. His voice carried through the mist, clear and cold.
Cain frowned. "Shut up and die, trash."
"I gave you a chance," Lin continued, ignoring Zhao Hu completely. "I carried your bags. I took your insults. I even drank your poison."
Yuna flinched violently, her face turning ghost-white.
"I thought maybe, just maybe, you were worth keeping as meat shields," Lin said, tilting his head. "But I was wrong."
"What are you babbling about?" Zhao Hu snapped. He didn't like being ignored. He raised the rifle butt to smash Lin's face. "I said—"
[Skill Activated: Shadow Walk]
Zip.
Lin didn't move away. He stepped in. He closed the distance instantly. Before Zhao Hu could swing the rifle, Lin's hand was already on the barrel.
With a twist of his wrist (STR 18 vs Zhao Hu's STR 14), Lin ripped the heavy rifle out of Zhao Hu's grip. He didn't shoot. He reversed the weapon and smashed the steel stock into Zhao Hu's nose.
CRACK!
"ARGH!" Zhao Hu stumbled back, blood spraying from his shattered nose. "My face! Kill him! Kill him!"
Zhao Hu's squad drew their weapons. Cain and his team stood frozen, their mouths open. They couldn't process what just happened. The F-Rank baggage just speed-blitzed a combatant?
Lin tossed the rifle aside. It clattered loudly on the concrete. He reached under his coat. SHING. The Twin Vipers slid out. The black, acid-etched blades seemed to absorb the light.
Lin looked at Zhao Hu, then at Cain. A smile slowly spread across his face. It wasn't a hero's smile. It was the smile of the Joker.
"You're not hunting me," Lin whispered. "You're locked in here with me."
[Skill Activated: Shadow Clone x3]
Three identical shadows burst from the ground, surrounding the terrified group. The hunt had turned.
（"Enjoying the massacre? Drop a Power Stone to feed the Clone Army!"）