For a while after the inheritance ended, none of them spoke.
The chamber had grown quiet again.
The ancient runes on the walls slowly faded until only faint glimmers remained.
Zane exhaled.
"…That was insane."
Lily nodded slightly.
Even she, usually composed, looked shaken.
Then she glanced at the two of them.
"Well… since we're showing things."
She opened her system panel.
She expanded the system panel so the others could see it clearly.
Golden runes floated across the screen as the full details appeared.
---
Class: Void Strider
Grade: SS
Previous Class Requirement: Spatial Walker ✔
Description:
A master of the pathways between spaces and the silent void that lies between worlds.
Void Striders do not merely manipulate space — they walk through the unseen layers of reality, bending distance, tearing dimensional seams, and stepping through the void itself.
Their bodies gradually adapt to spatial distortion, allowing them to survive environments and movements that would tear ordinary awakeners apart.
---
Class Traits
Void stride
Allows the user to step through folded space, creating instantaneous short-distance movement without traditional teleportation delay.
Dimensional Sense
Grants heightened perception of spatial fluctuations, hidden portals, dimensional traps, and unstable areas of space.
Void Resistance
The body gains resistance to spatial pressure, dimensional tears, and void turbulence.
---
Initial Skill
Void Rift (Active)
Creates a short-lived tear in space that can either:
• Redirect attacks
• Create temporary pathways
• Disrupt enemy positioning
Cooldown and stability depend on the user's spatial control.
---
When the panel closed, Zane let out a low whistle.
"Okay… that actually fits you perfectly."
Lily nodded slightly.
"It seems the inheritance adjusted to my original class."
She flexed her fingers slightly, clearly feeling the change in her power.
"The spatial affinity is much stronger now."
Zael said nothing.
But he had already noticed it.
The space around Lily moved slightly differently now.
Almost like the world was subtly accommodating her presence.
Zane stretched his arms.
"Well, inheritance cleared. Hidden classes acquired."
He looked toward the chamber exit.
"So… I guess we should leave before this place decides to throw another trial at us."
None of them disagreed.
They began walking toward the tunnel they had originally fallen through.
A faint light appeared ahead.
Soon—
They stepped outside.
Fresh air hit their faces.
The forest returned.
Birds chirped faintly in the distance.
For a moment the three of them simply stood there.
Then Zane activated his watch.
The screen lit up immediately.
"…Wait."
His brows furrowed.
"That can't be right."
Lily checked hers too.
Then her eyes widened.
"The time…"
Zael checked his as well.
According to the watch—
Only one hour and thirty-seven minutes had passed since they disappeared.
Zane stared at the screen.
"Inside that inheritance…"
"We were there for over a day."
Lily nodded slowly.
"More than a day."
Zael looked back toward the ground behind them.
The hole they had fallen into should have been there.
But instead—
There was only normal forest soil.
No crater.
No crack.
No tunnel.
Nothing.
Zane walked around the area, scanning the ground.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Lily expanded her spatial sense.
Her eyes sharpened.
"I can't detect any dimensional distortion either."
The inheritance ground had vanished completely.
Like it had never existed.
Zael looked at the empty ground calmly.
Inheritance grounds sometimes worked like that.
Temporary.
Selective.
Once the inheritance was taken—
The place simply erased itself.
Zane exhaled slowly.
"Well… guess nobody else is getting that inheritance."
Lily looked at the forest around them.
"More importantly…"
She raised her watch.
The navigation map reappeared.
They were still inside the training camp trial.
And they had lost time.
"The entrance test is still running."
Zane smirked slightly.
"Which means…"
He glanced at Zael.
"We should probably start hunting again."
Zael looked toward the distant mountains shown on the watch map.
Somewhere out there—
Other elite students from different universities were moving through the wilderness.
Collecting points.
Hunting beasts.
And hunting each other.
Zael closed his watch.
His eyes were calm.
"Let's move."
Because now—
The real competition of the training camp was about to begin.
----
The forest had grown quieter.
After leaving the inheritance ground, the three of them moved quickly through the wilderness, following the direction indicated by the smart watches.
The navigation arrow pulsed steadily.
Destination Distance: 18.6 km
Zane stretched his shoulders as they ran along a narrow ridge between thick trees.
"Still six hours to reach the checkpoint."
He glanced at the watch again.
"And we already lost over an hour."
Lily responded calmly while moving through the trees with light, precise steps.
"Not necessarily."
She tapped her watch.
The interface shifted and a new panel appeared.
---
Training Camp Entrance Trial
Time Remaining: 3 Hours 41 Minutes
Initial Points: 35
Ranking: Unranked
---
Zane blinked.
"Zero?"
He frowned.
"That can't be right. You killed multiple beasts already."
Zael's registered 40 and his 55.
Zael answered calmly.
"Points aren't counted until the watch confirms the kill."
Zane immediately understood.
"…Because the watches were offline in the inheritance ground."
Lily nodded.
"The system never recorded the kills."
Zane groaned.
"So we basically fought those monsters for free."
Zael didn't seem bothered.
"Not entirely."
He glanced ahead.
"We gained something better."
Neither Lily nor Zane argued with that.
A hidden class inheritance was worth infinitely more than the points of a few beasts.
Still—
Points mattered now.
Zane opened the map again.
Multiple faint dots had appeared across the forest.
Some were moving.
Some had already vanished.
"Other students," he said.
"Either fighting… or stealing watches."
Lily spoke quietly.
"The more watches someone collects, the higher their starting points inside the camp."
Zael nodded.
Food.
Equipment.
Training facilities.
Information.
Everything inside the training camp required points.
And the first points came from this trial.
Without them—
A student could barely survive inside the camp.
Zane cracked his knuckles.
"Well."
His grin slowly returned.
"Guess it's time to start hunting seriously."
Almost immediately—
Zael stopped.
His hand lifted slightly.
The other two froze instantly.
Lily's eyes narrowed.
"Beast?"
Zael shook his head.
"Awakeners."
Zane smiled.
"Even better."
Through the trees ahead—
Voices drifted faintly through the forest.
Three figures appeared in a clearing about fifty meters ahead.
Students.
They were standing around a defeated beast carcass.
One of them lifted a smart watch from the ground.
"Three points," the student said with satisfaction.
"Not bad."
Another student laughed.
"If we keep this pace we'll enter the camp with at least fifty points."
The third spoke confidently.
"Just avoid the monsters above level 25 and we'll be fine."
They had no idea.
None.
That three other awakeners were already watching them.
Zane whispered quietly.
"Three targets."
"Average level maybe 18 to 20."
Lily observed them carefully.
"They're from different universities."
Their uniforms confirmed it.
Which meant—
No hesitation.
No alliances.
Just competition.
Zane turned slightly toward Zael.
"So."
His grin widened.
"Do we introduce ourselves…?"
Zael's eyes remained calm.
"Or take their watches?"
The answer was obvious.
Zael stepped forward.
Leaves rustled under his boots.
The three students turned immediately.
"Who—"
They froze.
Because the moment Zael stepped into the clearing—
They felt it.
The pressure.
The presence.
Even without knowing his name—
Instinct told them something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Behind him—
Zane smiled like someone who had just found entertainment.
Lily stood silently, the space around her faintly distorting.
Zael spoke calmly.
"Leave the watches."
"Or fight."
The forest fell silent.
And somewhere far above in the sky—
Unseen by any of them—
Training camp officials quietly watched the unfolding scene.
One of them leaned forward slightly.
"Oh."
"Those three… are interesting."
Because the trial had just become much more dangerous.
For everyone involved.