The great canyons of the hellish depths.

Two students wearing the second year uniform of the Academy was walking through one of the ‘depths’ of the region.

Adrian looked at the sullen face of his new ‘maid’.

He smiled. “Nervous?”

His question woke her up from daze. “Huh?”

“Nervous that I will go back on the deal and just torture you?” His smile turned into a smirk.

“How did you know!?” She stopped abruptly and took a step back.

“Relax. I don’t like torturing people that much.” He halted as well.

She scowled.

“Fine, just a little bit.”

Her expression did not change a bit.

“Okay. Okay. I love it. But that doesn’t mean I can just torture anyone. We de- Ahem… nobles have other things to do.” He continued. “Like maintaining public relations and following noblesse oblige. And keeping promises is one of them.”

“Why am I even thinking about it? I have already ‘sacrificed’ my everything to you.” She sighed.

“I will just say one thing. I had made a deal with the principal.” He turned back and began to walk.

She gasped. After a few moments of silence, she said, “Wait, that means the vice principal retiring…” She looked at him with questioning eyes.

His lips stretched to a smile.

“Wait!” She ran to him, fearing he might leave her there.

“Then, you can REALLY make me the ruler of my people?” She jumped in front of him, stopping him in his track, and clasped her hands together, looking at his eyes in anticipation.

“Tsk. Girl, haven’t I promised you already? Or should I forget about it and just torture you?” He licked his lips.

She gulped and took two steps back.

“I am joking. Relax.” He waved his hand. “You are not worth torturing.”

She smiled wryly. She did now what to feel- happy for not being tortured, or sad for not being worth it.

“I bully the strong. And you are pitifully weak.”

She thought for a moment before asking, “They are subjective. Who are strong to you, and who are weak? Do you judge by their levels or authority?” She began walking backwards.

“Both and none.”

She frowned.

He continued walking as well. “I judge by their own thoughts. You think of yourself as weak- not even having the right to be the ruler of your own people; to me- you are weak. While Valentina Ross thought that all commoner youths were meant to be her toys. Hence, to me- she ‘was’ strong. Even those who dare to look down on me are ‘strong’.”

His answer had her delve deep in thoughts. “What about you? What do you think of your self?”

“Me? I am…” He came to a halt prompting her to cease walking as well.

He looked up, right at the scorching sun, and smiled. The bright light gleaming on on his demonically handsome face only added to his otherworldly looks.

“Supreme.”

Three more days passed. It already had been a week since everyone was teleported into this magical world- the one they called ‘the fleeting lands’.

“We have been waiting for a day.” Princess Cornelia said. “What are you looking for?”

“Strange. According to Valentina, this should be the spot.” Adrian frowned.

There was a huge crater with a diameter of around two kilometres. The duo were sitting on the ledge.

“According to Valentina?” She squinted at him. “But she did not say anything about this place- nothing at all.”

“It’s only a week into the Hunt; we will wait.”

Two more days passed.

“Isn’t it enough?” Cornelia was sweating all over and her eyes looked tired.

She would do anything to leave that hellish spot. Even though the hellish depths was a hotspot of canyons; there was not a single drop of water in the entire place. Even the dessert had oasis for fuck’s sake!

She had to go all the way to the giant lake to fetch water for the last two days. It was almost 6 hours two-way trip. And she had to carry two buckets of water during the return trip. Where did she get those buckets? Well, she was a ‘woodcutter’ after all.

And could she decline to bring back water? Who knows? ‘Your blood will suffice.’ might have been the last sentence she ever heard.

“I guess it is.” He sighed and looked up. “Did I make a mistake this time?”

“Relax. We all make mistakes; we are humans.” She consoled him with a smile. For the first time ever, she felt that she held a superior position over him.

“Exactly!”

But that feeling did not last for long.

“Let’s leave.” He stood up as he looked towards the southwest.

She panicked. “Not the desert! Anywhere but there!”

“Your wish.”

Three days later.

*Rumble*

*Burble*

A ship was sailing through the eastern seas. Wind pushed the sail while the raging waters clashed against the hull.

Adrian was behind the helm, steering the small frigate through the storm. Where did he get the ship?

“Fuck! We should have gone west.” Cornelia bellowed as she was pulling a rope hard.

Her drench clothes pressed against her body, revealing her petite and firm figure.

“Land ahoy!” Adrian was the captain cum helmsman cum watch of the ship. The princess was everything else.

He was wearing a black hat with white skull drawn on it. Two claws were crossed just below it.

Cornelia clearly remembers the time when that motherfucker brought out that peculiar hat from his backpack. What else was hidden in it?

Five minutes later, they anchored the ship to the shore of the island. They were already out of the storm; but the sky was still dark as it was night.

“Start preparing dinner. I will scout through the island.”

“Ye- I mean… Aye Aye captain!” It had been two fucking days and she still couldn’t get used to it.

“Good.” He set off to a deeper part of the island.

Cornelia sighed before getting to her work again. She was sure that the last half a month had made her one of the best chefs in the Continent. Courtesy- the ingredients he pulled out from his bag.

Adrian did not have to walk more than half an hour through the forest before a smile formed on his face.

A young man was sitting in his tent half naked and absorbing magical energy.

Suddenly, the tent curtains opened. He stood up in alarm and got ready for battle. “Who?”

No sooner had he asked the question than a devilishly young man wearing a peculiar but cool hat stepped in.

The intruder’s abyssal eyes met his for a few seconds before the the newcomer began to laugh.

He laughed as if he heard the funniest joke ever. He laughed so hard that even tears escaped through the corner of his eyes.

But the Institute student did not dare to strike. Something told him that making a move would be the costliest mistake he would ever make.

The black hatted young man barely stopped his laughs before wiping the tear off his face.

“Adrian, O Adrian. You are an old monster and you let a bunch of ‘infants’ fool you.”

Adrian then looked at the half naked youth. “Sorry for the intrusion and thank you for the joke. Been a while since I had such a laugh.”

He left, leaving the scared but confused Institute student alone in his tent.

Cornelia finished cooking the dishes. Now, all she needed to do was wait for him to come and enjoy the ‘delicacies’ together. A proud smile formed on her face.

Two minutes later Adrian returned. She wanted to say something but he walked past her.

“I am not in the mood to eat.” She heard his cold voice.

She gulped before she followed him back to the ship. The ‘delicacies’ remained on the beach.

Three days passed by. It was already halfway into the event.

Evening. Adrian and Cornelia were back to where everything started- Purplestar forest.

Back then, Adrian teleported to the northern outskirts of the forest. Now, they were going deeper into the South.

An hour later, the sun set down. Adrian finally reached his destination.

Both of them were sitting on the branch of a tall Purplestar tree, observing the bustling scene thirty meters ahead.

The part of the forest was cleared of trees. In its place was a camp with fifteen orange tents- large and small.

Torches and bonfires lit up the whole camp. Many orange outfitted youths were busy doing their own things.

Cornelia’s eyes almost popped out. She gasped as she turned to Adrian.

“We are not going against that, are we?” She asked.

“Nope. I am.” He smiled.

“Are you crazy?! There are at least 50 of them out there.”

“Yes, I know. Disappointing, isn’t it?” He shook his head.

“You?!” She gave up.

Adrian removed his backpack before taking out two items wrapped with black clothes. He unwrapped them, revealing the two dark gauntlets with claws protruding from every one of the fingertips.

He also took a few other items before putting them in his pockets. He threw the backpack to her.

She almost fell down after catching the heavy bag.

“Take this. Go to the first house you built and wait for me there.” He began to wear the claws.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I can protect my-

“Do you think I am telling you to leave to protect you from them?” He finally finished arming himself. “No. I am telling you to run to protect you from me.”

He turned towards the camp and brandished his claws. His lips stretched to form a malicious smile.

“I am not picky when it comes to a feast.”