OLD-WORLD EXTRA

They continued practicing the Path Optimization technique till the bell rang, circulating their Aether over and over, trying to find which ability path they could change, how much they

could optimize, and what backlash they would receive.

The next two days followed the same pattern: arriving at the Academy, entering Emir's class, and practicing diligently.

However, when Thursday arrived, their professor had a different plan for them.

They knew something was up even before entering the class, as they were informed to head to the third type of classroom, the 'empty' one, suggesting that today's lesson would likely involve some fighting.

This news excited them-after all, hunters preferred action over burying their heads in books.

It didn't take long for the first-year students to assemble in the classroom; their excitement palpable.

Emir arrived exactly on time and stood before them, a small smile playing on his lips.

Snap.

As he flicked his fingers, the room transformed into a simulated slum street with many alleyways, and dilapidated buildings, the details eerily lifelike, as if it was an exact replica of the bunker beneath them.

"Today, we'll be doing something different. Follow me."

Like little ducklings, the students trailed after him through the grime and rubble, their feet kicking away trash at every tenth step.

"I'll be practicing with you all today. I'll only be using a gun and a knife. Mind you, the guns will fire blanks, so none of you will die, only feel pain. The simulation will take care of the rest, registering hits and deaths. Abilities are banned. No Aether."

The students, both the 'named' and 'unnamed' exchanged curious glances.

This was unlike any training they had undergone before.

"Every time I win, I'll apply debuffs to myself. Every time you lose, you'll get buffs. Let's see how you adapt."

Stopping, he turned around to face them and tapped his neck.

"Accept the link."

Nodding, they did as he commanded without question.

Those who hated him, mainly two, were especially eager, excited at the prospect of fighting him.

Dreams of besting him in combat whispered into their minds, and they loved the feeling such a dream gave them.

Once everyone had accepted, Lyra connected to all of them, applying the simulation directly to their neural network.

In an instant, all the students had a Heads-Up Display appear in front of them.

It displayed a radar in the top left, health and shield levels below that, an ammo count on the right, and the number of allies alive above that.

The inexperienced ones flinched at the sight, confused, and raised their hands, wanting to ask questions.

"No. You'll learn during the training. Also, only you kids have that, so don't worry; I can find you only through my five senses."

But Emir curtly shut them down while turning around.

"First round begins in three..."

He announced, his steps picking up pace as he disappeared into the darkness.

"Remember, no Aether. Just your skills and instincts."

A countdown dominated their HUDS, and they looked at each other, excited and nervous in equal measure.

{3...}

The smart of them looked around, checking for equipment.

{2...}

It didn't take them long to find what they wanted, as their equipment was hidden behind a crate in the alley to their left.

{1...}

They rushed like a horde of sheep, pushing each other as they tried to fit into the relatively small alleyway.

{Come Kill Your Professor.}

The first round began and Elijah was the first to grab an AR, named AR-HA2, the same one Emir had purchased before going on a 'stroll' with Aria and a knife, taking off by himself. Behind him, his fellow students did the same, respecting the unspoken rules by only grabbing a single set.

Eventually, when they were all ready, they scattered, trying to use the environment to their advantage.

They moved cautiously through the dimly lit streets, their eyes scanning for any sign of Emir. Some were in pairs, and others went solo, but most were in groups of at least three.

And soon, when the students reached a clear distance away from the starting point, silence fell over the slum.

But that didn't last for long.

Bang!

Suddenly, a shot rang out.

One 'unnamed' student who went solo was dropped, the simulation marking their 'death.'

{76/77}

Panic set in almost every student as they realized how quickly things could go wrong.

Two students, more cautious than the last one, moved together, their eyes scanning every

corner.

They were closest to where the shot originated, so they were on high alert.

Swish...

A soft rustle resounded behind them, and before they could react, a shot rang out.

The taller of them fell, the simulation marking his 'death.'

His friend spun around, about to aim his rifle, but another shot took him down.

{74/77}

Emir moved swiftly, his steps silent, his movements fluid.

Up next on his list were 'named,' and unlike the last, he wasn't going to give them any hints of

his arrival.

He watched as Ava and Aria took cover behind a crumbling wall, their breath quick and

shallow.

They peeked around the corner, trying to spot him, knowing that he was somewhere near.

A large shadow moved, and they aimed their guns at it, tracking it.

But that shadow was faster.

"No-!"

Emir emerged from a different angle, taking them both down with accurate shots, not giving

them the time to say a word.

{72/77}

One by one, the students fell.

They were supposed to be the hunters, but they felt the exact opposite.

There was no doubt, they were prey.

Unlike them, Emir moved with precision, each 'kill' executed flawlessly.

He navigated the slum with ease as if he had lived there for many years. He climbed walls, jumped across rooftops, and used the shadows to stay hidden, using every bit of the

environment to his advantage.

{40/77}

After 'killing' twenty-two 'unnamed' Emir finally neared another 'named' and this duo was

unexpected.

It was Junior and Quinn.

While they had gotten closer during their near-death 'date,' they didn't grow any feelings of camaraderie with each other, so their being together was most probably coincidental.

The two crouched behind a stack of crates, forming a makeshift barrier that protected them on either side of the alley.

Their guns were mounted on top of the crates, trained at each entrance, awaiting Emir's

arrival.

Unfortunately for them, the man they so eagerly awaited was above them on the roof, just outside the range of their information-gathering devices, the muzzle of his gun hovering

over their heads.

'Didn't think they were this dumb...'

Bang! Bang!

Emir fired twice, 'killing' them in under a second.

It was incredibly fast, but that second was enough for Sofia to spot him.

She was lying prone on the roof of a building far away, her gun now trained on him.

It seemed they had planned this out, using themselves as bait-or at least, Sofia used them as

bait-hoping to ambush him.

Bang!