The heirs gathered at the treeline, where the ground turned from packed dirt to wild undergrowth. Overhead, mana drones floated in steady formation, their pale glow catching every movement, every word. No one could pretend this was private—not when half the continent's most powerful families were watching.

A man with chestnut hair and a rigid stance stepped forward, dressed in the navy cloak of Nivaria's officials. His voice cut through the murmurs.

"The Hunt of Inheritance begins now. For the next seven days, your strength and judgment will decide your worth. Survive, hunt, and endure. Go."

The effect was immediate. Groups broke off at once—some heirs rushing in packs, others sprinting into the shadows to claim territory before rivals could. The forest seemed to swallow them whole, branches creaking, leaves shivering under their passage.

Noel stood where he was, arms loosely crossed, watching the chaos unfold. 'Like a race to see who dies first. Brilliant strategy.'

Beside him, Elena lingered, her golden eyes flicking toward him instead of the forest. Around them, Marcus and Clara were already moving, their pace steady but quick, Clara muttering something about finding water sources before nightfall. Damon and Sylvette peeled away too, heading deeper with practiced confidence.

The air grew heavier, thick with the promise of what waited beyond the treeline. Somewhere out there, monsters stirred, their low growls echoing faintly like warnings.

Noel exhaled slowly, his hand brushing the hilt of Revenant Fang. 'Let's get this over with.'

Elena hesitated at the edge of the treeline, her steps slowing as the others disappeared into the shadows. The glow of the mana drones overhead followed her every move, making her ears burn even redder.

She turned to Noel, her voice quiet but steady. "Shall we go together?"

Noel studied her for a moment, then shook his head lightly. "Not this time. I want to win." His tone wasn't harsh, but firm. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of platinum hair from her face. "I'll see you later."

Before Elena could answer, he leaned down and kissed her.

Her breath caught in surprise, but her arms quickly wrapped around him, returning it with quiet urgency. For a moment, the forest, the drones, the eyes of half the nobility—it all disappeared. There was only the two of them.

Then the hum of the drones returned to the forefront, louder now, reminding them they weren't alone. Elena pulled back, cheeks glowing. "You're impossible," she whispered.

Noel smirked faintly. "Well, you didn't pull away, I guess you like it."

High above, the drones captured every detail, their projections feeding directly into the great tent. Nobles murmured among themselves. Some scoffed, others smirked.

Thalanor, lounging comfortably, chuckled aloud. "Well, it seems my daughter has chosen. That, I'll respect."

Mirelle's icy expression hardened, her blue eyes narrowing. "Foolish girl. She could still choose better."

But the images kept playing, proof enough that Elena's choice was already made.

Back at the treeline, Noel squeezed her hand once before stepping back. "Stay safe."

"You too," she replied softly, her eyes lingering as he turned toward the forest.

The treeline gave way to uneven ground almost immediately. Roots jutted from the soil like spears, and sharp rocks broke through the moss, making every step a calculation. Beyond, the forest thickened again, but this time climbing upward along steep ridges. The air smelled of wet stone and old pine, heavy with the weight of the mountains.

Noel moved carefully, eyes sweeping from slope to slope. Shadows clung thick where the canopy blocked the light, and the drone glow barely reached past the first layers of leaves. The silence wasn't comforting—it was hunting silence.

His hand brushed the hilt of Revenant Fang. Normally, Noir would be by his side, trotting ahead with her nose low, catching scents long before Noel noticed them. But now…

He exhaled through his nose, lips curving in a faint smile. 'Hope you come back soon, little one. Climbing mountains blind isn't half as fun without you.'

The drones floated above him like lazy fireflies, recording his every step. Noel glanced up, smirk tugging at his mouth. 'Guess they're waiting for me to slip. Not giving them that show.'

Damon's trail had gone downhill, Sylvette's up toward the ridges. Fine. Babysitting wasn't on his to-do list.

Instead, Noel crouched low, brushing his fingers over damp soil. The incline here meant water was close, probably running down into a stream at the base of the cliffs. His instincts sharpened: if he wanted to last the week, he'd need higher ground, somewhere with stone walls to keep his back safe.

A distant growl echoed, bouncing between ridges, low and guttural. Noel straightened, gaze narrowing toward the sound.

'Step one: don't get eaten. Step two: find a roof. Everything else can wait.'

The climb barely registered. Noel's hands found holds in the rock without thought, and his body moved with an ease that would've surprised him months ago. The ridge should've left him panting, arms burning, but when he hauled himself onto the plateau, his breathing was steady, his muscles unstrained.

'Yeah… Ascendant has its perks.'

From the higher ground, the view opened wide. Forest and mountain stretched in every direction, valleys cut deep between jagged ridges. A glimmer of water caught his eye—a stream winding down into the trees. More importantly, a shallow cave mouth broke the cliff face just ahead.

He approached it carefully, one hand brushing the stone. Dry, stable. A promising find.

"Glacialis," Noel murmured, sending a shard of ice cracking into the wall. The rock didn't even flinch. Solid. Good. With a flick of his fingers, he etched a small "Flare Trap" near the entrance, watching the rune burn faintly before fading back into the stone. Enough to warn him if something curious wandered too close.

Inside, the cave was narrow but serviceable. No fresh claw marks, no stink of recent nesting. Just dust, old scratches, and silence.

Leaning back against the cool stone, Noel let out a slow breath. 'One week in this mountain. If I don't set up shelter, I'll end up being someone else's dinner. Simple math.'

His eyes drifted down to the treeline. The hum of the drones carried even here, faint but constant. 'Let's just hope nobody gets creative and drugs a beast this time. That circus was enough once.'

A dry smirk tugged at his mouth. "Alright. Cave's mine."

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