Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 353: Special Training Program [3]

Lucas's chest was hoisting up and down as he ran across the forest. Taking deep breaths, he tried to maintain a constant speed.

"Huuh" Lucas groaned, as he strolled on a small cord.

As soon as the cord broke a huge log came flying out of nowhere arrived in front of him aiming for him.

Lucas senses were more sharper then the rest of cadets here, Since he train with Yato on regular bases his senses have been sharpened like a sword.

However, since his entire mana network was blocked by the instructor and he was running in this deep forest since the last 30 minutes, Lucas was getting tired.

He's stamina was running out... Still he was far ahead from rest of the cadets.

At that moment, Lucas made a single mistake...That he would never make.

He was barely able to avoid it as a small part of the log brushed past him and slammed him.

Whissh.

Lucas entire body was sent flying backwards as he slammed on the ground.

Lucas groaned in pain, as his back slammed on the ground.

Other students mocked Lucas as they passed him avoiding the trap that has already been discovered by Lucas.

They passed the traps similar to those thanks to Lucas being the example.

Some looked down on seeing him while others passed without turning to look at him.

But their mockery didn't last long cause as they moved forward, some fell in the small pits and their body covered in mud while others that managed to avoid it were trapped in the nets which pulled them up towards the tree.

One girl laughed seeing her friend misfortune step on a loop that tightened around one of her legs and dragged her upside down to the height of the tree.

Looking at them Lucas laughed inwardly.

Lucas dusting off his body picked himself up and started to march again.

'So there are all lots of traps set across this place. Lots of people will fail to pass through unscathed,' Lucas thought, shaking off the pain. 'I need to stay sharp.'

He resumed his journey through the forest, more cautious now. The terrain was relentless, filled with hidden snares, pitfalls, and obstacles designed to test their limits. The other cadets' missteps served as constant reminders of the dangers lurking around every corner.

Lucas's heightened senses, honed from his training with Yato, gave him an edge. Despite his fatigue, he remained alert, scanning his surroundings for any signs of danger. He moved with a mix of agility and precision, avoiding traps with deft movements and quick reflexes.

As he navigated through the dense underbrush, Lucas spotted a group of cadets ahead, struggling with a particularly tricky series of obstacles. A pit filled with sharp spikes was concealed under a thin layer of leaves, and several students had narrowly avoided falling in.

"Careful, there's a pit here," Lucas called out, warning those behind him. Some heeded his advice, while others were too focused on their own paths to notice.

Lucas continued forward, his pace steady.

Clack.Clack.Tap.Tap.Tack.

The sound of feet tapping the forest full of leaves. broken branches dried twigs and fallen trees reverberated across the forest.

Lucas ran avoiding the traps, ducking the logs that came flying at him and jumping through the pits on his path without the intention of overtaking anyone.

A student who was catching on to him tried to overtake him to show he is superior.

He arrived at Lucas left and overtook him with a mocking expression but Lucas didn't spare him a glance.

Lucas had already met 4 out of 10 students who mocked others when they overtook him as if the competition to take a higher position had been engraved in their bones.

He didn't bother but still decided to teach him a lesson, as he observed the path ahead. Lucas noticed a subtle disturbance in the leaves and twigs on the ground, a telltale sign of another trap.

"Watch your step," he muttered, just loud enough for the overtaking student to hear. The cadet sneered, clearly dismissing the warning.

Moments later, the student stepped directly into the concealed loop of a snare.

With a swift motion, the trap activated, yanking the cadet into the air and leaving him dangling helplessly from a tree branch.

"Waaaah!"

His shocked cries filled the air, followed by the laughter of other students who had witnessed his hubris.

"Not so superior now, huh?" one cadet quipped as they passed by.

Lucas pressed on, his focus unwavering.

The terrain continued to challenge him, but his resolve was stronger than ever.

Every step, every obstacle was a testament to his training and determination. He was not here to compete with others; his goal was to survive and learn from this experience.

The forest began to thin out, and Lucas knew he was nearing the end. The ridge loomed ahead, a steep incline that would test their endurance further. He took a moment to catch his breath, glancing back to see how far the other cadets had come.

Some were still entangled in traps, while others were slowly making their way through the forest.

Lucas started the climb, gripping the rough rock and pulling himself upward. His muscles burned with exertion, but he kept a steady pace, focusing on each handhold and foothold. He could hear the labored breathing of cadets behind him, some struggling more than others.

Halfway up the ridge, Lucas paused to adjust his grip, taking a deep breath. The view from here was breathtaking, a brief respite from the grueling journey. But there was no time to rest; the slope and boulders awaited him.

After recovering, Lucas started to climb slowly. As Lucas looked up someone who had reached a height of ten feet placed his hands on a protruding rock.

An opening appeared and from the hole, a pole shot out of the hole. The cadet was hit in his chest and was sent down the steep rocky mountain.

He screamed in fear after falling from the height.

But just the moment about he was going to hit the ground, a shield of mana bubble wrapped around him coming from his bracelet slowing his speed of descent and the floating bubble burst as he was about 1m from the ground.

The boy fell with a small thud and breathed heavily. He was scared out of his wit when he fall and thought today he will meet the maker today.

'Even this one has trapped too. Aren't the academies instructors love setting up traps?' Lucas thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He was relieved that the academy's safety measures were in place, ensuring that no one would get seriously injured, but it didn't make the challenge any less daunting.

Lucas continued his ascent, taking extra care to avoid any suspicious-looking rocks or crevices. Each handhold was a calculated decision, every step a testament to his determination. He finally reached the top of the ridge, pulling himself over the edge with a grunt. His muscles burned, but he felt a surge of accomplishment.

Taking a brief moment to survey his surroundings, Lucas saw the next challenge: the slope with boulders waiting to be carried.