The morning sun had barely risen above the horizon when Alex stepped out of his dorm. Today marked the beginning of the Wilderness Survival Training Program.
He was already dressed in his training gear—lightweight, durable, reinforced with mana threads. After a quick breakfast in the dining hall—some bread, dried meat, and fruit—he made his way toward the academy's main gate.
Dozens of students had already gathered, their chatter filling the air with a nervous, electric energy. Long rows of reinforced, mana-powered buses stood waiting, each one emblazoned with the academy's crest.
"Alex!" Sherry's soft voice reached him through the crowd.
He turned to see her approaching, slightly breathless, a small bag slung over one shoulder and a faint flush coloring her cheeks. Her usual uniform had been replaced with a more practical adventuring outfit—still modest, but clearly enchanted for protection. Her fingers fidgeted with the straps of her bag, and her eyes wavered slightly as they met his.
"You ready?" he asked, offering a small smile.
Sherry nodded, managing a nervous one of her own. "Yes."
They boarded their assigned bus together, settling into seats near the middle. The interior was spacious, lined with rows of sturdy leather seats. As more students filled in, the noise grew—some discussing strategy, others joking too loudly, clearly masking their nerves.
As the buses pulled away from the academy and left the main road behind, instructors on board stood up and moved through the aisles, handing out small, silver-toned devices—slim magic watches.
"Everyone received a watch?" one of the teachers called out. "These will track your vital signs, log your location, and record points for every monster you kill. The stronger the monster, the more points you earn."
Alex tapped the screen. A transparent interface flickered to life above the watch face:
Points: 0
"Tampering with the device in any way," the teacher continued, voice sterner now, "will result in immediate disqualification. And if your vitals flatline, your signal will automatically alert the nearest checkpoint. If it's not a false alarm… a retrieval team will be dispatched."
The implication hung in the air. Help might come—but it wouldn't come quickly.
After another hour, the buses began to slow.
They had reached the Green Zone—the outermost region of the Wilderness. It was monster-free, serving as a buffer between the city walls and the Wilderness beyond.
As the bus came to a stop, a clear voice rang out from a communication crystal mounted near the front.
"Students, prepare to disembark."
Principal Elena stood ahead, flanked by several instructors. Her long coat fluttered in the breeze, her expression as unreadable as ever.
She raised her voice—calm, commanding.
"From this point forward, you are on your own. Remember the rules: no internal conflict. No unauthorized dungeon or labyrinth entry. And if you request assistance, your assessment ends."
A gust of wind swept through the trees, as if nature itself had paused to listen.
"Begin."
With that final word, she turned away.
The principal's voice had barely faded before a cheer erupted from the crowd. A wave of excitement washed over the students, and in the next instant, they scattered like birds taking flight.
Groups quickly formed—and each set off toward the dense, emerald expanse of the Wilderness. Their targets: survival, exploration, and monster hunting. And they came prepared.
A low hum of engines filled the air as students summoned their personal modes of transportation. Gleaming armored transport vehicles—four-wheeled, mana-powered beasts—rolled out from storage rings. Others had sleek motorbikes with glowing exhausts and enchantments pulsing along their frames. A few strapped on levitating skates or glideboards, zipping across the grass with impressive balance and flair.
Alex stepped back slightly, watching it all with a glimmer of intrigue in his eyes.
He reached into his spatial ring and drew out a metallic disc the size of a small shield. With a flick of his wrist, it unfolded smoothly and began to hum softly, floating a few inches off the ground.
The Drifter Disk.
Circular and sleek, it was covered in faintly glowing lines of blue circuitry—a product of modern magitech. While not as fast or flashy as other options, it offered clean, silent movement and operated based on both mental commands and subtle shifts in body weight.
Alex stepped onto it carefully.
The disk stabilized under him immediately thanks to the built-in Auto-Balance enchantment—a feature he'd intentionally chosen, given that this was his first time using anything like it.
He tested it with a slight lean forward. The disk responded smoothly, gliding ahead with a gentle whoosh.
"Not bad."
Its top speed was somewhere between forty to fifty kilometers per hour, depending on the terrain. Fast enough to traverse the outer zones, not fast enough to outrun high-tier monsters. Still, it was maneuverable, quiet, and compact—a solid pick for mobility and scouting.
Just as he was adjusting to it, he turned toward Sherry.
"You got your own ride, or...?"
Sherry gave him a small, mischievous smile. "Mm-hmm. Just a second."
She reached into her own spatial ring and took out hers.
With a low mechanical rumble, a four-wheeled vehicle unfolded and settled on the ground in front of them—its frame sleek, angular, and painted with muted earth tones for camouflage. It looked like a fusion between an ATV and a rugged bike, fitted with off-road tires etched with runes and a mana-powered engine nestled within its body.
Alex blinked. "Whoa."
Before he could respond further, a loud voice called out nearby.
"That's a Manadrift Scout S-2, right?!"
A student jogged up excitedly, practically vibrating with energy. His gear looked custom-made, and he had a pair of magical goggles perched on his head. Behind him, Trey followed with a few others—his group.
The student circled the ATV in admiration. "Man, I was this close to getting one of those. The S-2's a solid ride. Balanced power, great traction, and those dual-core mana converters? Smooth as hell on uneven terrain!"
Sherry blinked, a little surprised by the attention. "Y-Yeah, it was a gift..."
"I've got my eye on the Manadrift Raider, though." the guy added, tapping his chin. "Gotta kill a few high-rank monsters this month before I can even think of affording one."
Alex glanced over just as Trey and his group pulled up beside them.
"Yo!" Trey raised a hand in greeting, his trademark smirk already in place. "Figured I'd catch you before we all went our separate ways."
Alex stepped off his Drifter Disk, letting it hover quietly beside him. "Took you long enough."
Trey chuckled, then glanced at Sherry and gave a polite nod. "Hello."
She quickly dipped her head in acknowledgment, her voice barely above a whisper. "H-Hello."
True to form, she had retreated into her usual quiet shell in the presence of others. She stood close to her bike, her eyes flickering between Alex and the ground.
Trey didn't take offense. Instead, he gestured to his group.
"Figured I should introduce you properly this time." He pointed to the tall guy with braided hair and heavy gauntlets strapped to his arms. "That's Garrick—meathead with fists like warhammers."
Garrick grinned, pounding his fists together. "And a heart of gold. Don't forget that part."
Next was a slim girl with short, spiky hair and sharp eyes that flickered with electricity. "That's Reina. Good with lightning magic. Scary when she's mad, so don't piss her off."
Reina gave a quick wave, chewing gum with a bored expression.
"And finally—" Trey gestured toward the guy who had previously gushed about Sherry's ride, "—this excitable gearhead is Luden. Our resident mechanic-slash-hyperactive squirrel."
Luden stepped forward eagerly, already inspecting Sherry's ATV again. "Still can't believe you got a Manadrift S-2, huh?"
Trey clapped him on the shoulder. "Alright, Luden, breathe. We're not here to start a fan club."
Luden grinned and took a step back. "Right, right. Sorry—I get carried away."
Alex folded his arms, amusement tugging at the edge of his lips. "So what brings you guys over? Don't tell me you got lost already."
"Nah," Trey replied with a confident shrug. "Just thought I'd swing by and lay down a little challenge before we head off."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Trey grinned. "Let's see which group racks up more points by the end of the month. Winner gets bragging rights—and maybe a round of treats at that new restaurant."
Alex's eyes gleamed. He met Trey's grin with one of his own. "Alright. Game on."
Trey extended a fist.
Alex bumped it.
"No slacking now," Trey added. "We'll be heading deeper into the eastern side. Supposed to be more monster sightings there—especially around the forest ridges."
With greetings done and friendly jabs exchanged, Trey's group began to turn away, prepping their vehicles and gear.
As Trey and his group left, Alex noticed the other students had already scattered, disappearing into the forest trails or roaring off into the distance.
He turned to Sherry. "We should get going too. No point in lagging behind."
Just as he moved to summon his Drifter Disk again, Sherry gently called out, "Wait… Alex."
He paused and looked over at her. She hesitated for a moment, then gestured to her wilderness bike.
"Why don't you ride with me?" she suggested, her voice soft but steady. "It's faster than your Disk, and… it'll be easier to cover more ground."
Alex blinked, slightly caught off guard.
Technically, it was called a solo ride—but the seat was definitely big enough to fit both of them comfortably.
Before he could respond, a familiar teasing voice chimed in from beside him.
"Ooooh, how bold~" Aurora leaned in close, eyes gleaming with mischief. "The cute girl just asked you to ride with her. Sharing a vehicle already? You move fast, my dear Alex~"
He sighed under his breath. "Don't start."
Still, as much as Aurora's teasing tried to get under his skin, she wasn't wrong. It was a smart suggestion. The ATV was clearly superior in terms of speed and rough-terrain handling. And riding together meant better coordination—and fewer delays.
"...Alright," he said at last, giving Sherry a small nod. "Sounds like a plan."
He turned and stored his Drifter Disk back into his storage ring, then approached the ATV.
At Sherry's suggestion, Alex took the front seat. The controls were intuitive—throttle and steering were easily manageable. She climbed on behind him, carefully placing her hands around his waist as they settled in.
"Comfortable?" he asked, adjusting his grip on the handles.
"Mhm." she nodded, her voice barely a whisper near his ear.
Aurora let out a playful hum as she floated upside down above them. "A boy and a girl… alone in the woods… sharing one ride… hehehe~ What a perfect setup for romance."
Alex ignored her, revving the mana engine gently. The ATV purred to life, and with a soft hum of energy beneath the tires, they surged forward—disappearing into the emerald expanse of the Wilderness.