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Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Hunt
I was on my way to school, just like any other day.
Or at least, that's what I thought.
The streets felt normal—the same chatter, the same rushed footsteps, the same morning air brushing past my face. But something inside me felt… off. Like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
I ignored it.
I reached the classroom, sliding into my seat as usual. My friend Daniel waved at me from across the room, talking about something random like always. I tried to focus, but that strange feeling kept creeping back.
Then it happened.
The lights flickered.
At first, I thought it was just a power cut—but then the air changed. It grew heavy. Thick. Like something invisible had entered the room.
A voice echoed.
Not from any speaker. Not from any person.
It was inside my head.
"Chosen participants will now be evaluated."
Everyone froze.
Some students laughed nervously. Others looked around in confusion. A few… looked terrified.
Before anyone could react, glowing screens appeared in front of us—floating in mid-air.
Just like in games.
A list of names started scrolling.
My heart dropped when I saw mine.
"Selected for Phase One: Hunting Test."
"What the hell is this?" someone shouted.
"This has to be a prank—right?"
But deep down… I knew it wasn't.
The voice returned, colder this time.
"Only the top 500 will proceed."
500?
There were thousands of us.
That's when panic truly began.
Some people tried to run—but the classroom doors slammed shut on their own. Others tried to touch the screens, only to recoil as if shocked.
And then—
Darkness.
Everything disappeared.
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When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the classroom anymore.
I was standing in the middle of a forest.
No—calling it a forest would be an understatement. The trees were massive, their branches twisting unnaturally, blocking out most of the sky. The air smelled damp… and something else.
Something dangerous.
A message appeared again.
"Welcome to the Hunting Ground."
My throat went dry.
"This isn't real…" I whispered.
But the cold wind against my skin, the crunch of leaves under my feet—it all felt too real.
Suddenly—
A scream echoed somewhere in the distance.
Then another.
And another.
My body froze.
The voice spoke again.
"Survive. Hunt. Become stronger."
I clenched my fists.
"I'm not dying here," I muttered.
That's when I felt it.
A strange buzzing in my head.
A system window appeared in front of my eyes.
"Ability unlocked."
Before I could even process it—
The bushes behind me rustled.
Slowly… I turned around.
Two glowing eyes stared back at me from the darkness.
Not human.
Not even close.
My heart pounded as the creature stepped forward, revealing sharp claws and a twisted, unnatural form.
This was no game.
This was a hunt.
And I was the prey.
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