The villain's side of the novel

In the heart of the forest, a clearing concealed a group of five men and two women. These individuals, disguised as humans, stood in a circle. The escaped Shadowstalker knelt before them, its red eyes burning with a mix of loyalty and fear.

With a low, guttural roar, the creature pointed a clawed finger toward Casper and Rin, who stood calmly at the edge of the camp. 

The group's eyes narrowed, their expressions filled with malice and anger. 

One of the men stepped forward, his voice calm. "I don't know how you are, but you won't leave this place alive."

Casper's mischievous grin twisted into a twisted smile as he replied, "Oh, this is so weird! It's like every soon-to-be-dead person has said these exact words at some point!"

" Let's kill those bastards " 

The group of disguised individuals, their anger ignited, clenched their fists. Dark claws emerged from their fingers, revealing their true monstrous nature.

Rin's expression remained stoic, but a flicker of realization passed through his eyes. His golden aura flared, its intensity growing as the truth sank in. These individuals, disguised as humans, were actually monsters in disguise.

...

Lisa, Aslan, Lyla, and Mina had gathered around, deep in conversation. They had always been good friends since their time at the academy, but it was à a long time since their last meeting. 

"So, you've lost your memories," Lyla asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Yes, but he assured us that we will remember soon," Aslan replied, glancing over at the innkeeper who was still engrossed in conversation with the mysterious green-haired woman.

"That's why you're with him, isn't it?" Mina chimed in, her eyes fixed on Fray, who stood alone nearby.

"What do you mean?" Aslan questioned, confusion evident in his voice.

Lisa, too, was intrigued. "Tell us more."

Mina took a deep breath before continuing. "Well, it seems that you don't remember, but your relationship with Fray isn't exactly a pleasant one. " 

"What!? Why's that ?"Lisa 

"Four years ago, there was a rumor that he went on a rampage and killed everyone in a small village due to some secret inheritance." Mina

Aslan and Lisa gasped in shock, their eyes widening.

"But that was just a rumor," Lyla interjected, trying to ease the tension. "And now, one of you has denied it and confirmed it, so no one expects the shield students to know what really happened."

Meanwhile, Fray stood beside a towering tree, his heightened senses allowing him to overhear their conversation, even though they spoke in hushed tones. However, he paid little attention to their words, his focus fixed on what Lysander had just revealed.

"What do you mean?" Fray asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Lysander took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. "Fray, I've been searching for a cure for my younger sister's rare illness for years. It's a condition that no one seems to have a solution for. But the letter I received mentioned a cure that could save her. Now, I believe that the Prize of the challenge we're embarking on holds the key to finding that cure."

Fray's eyes narrowed as he processed Lysander's words. "You still haven't answered my question," he said, his voice firm.

Lysander turned to face the group of girls, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Fray followed his gaze and suddenly realized what Lysander was talking about. All the participants had one common thing—they were all students at the academy, at the same time.

Realization dawned on Fray. If they had chosen the most talented students from the academy, they couldn't have overlooked the number one student in the whole academy—Luke Moonlight.

"So you don't want to go with Luke, and you're not sure if you can complete the challenge alone, am I right?" Fray asked, his tone filled with understanding.

Lysander nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, you're right. Except for the cure, I want to ask for something from the hidden inheritance. And I'm sure you know that my eyes will be a great help to you."

Before their conversation could continue, another blinding light emitted from the forest, causing everyone to shield their eyes. As the light faded, an astonishing scene unfolded before them.

An old man with a long, flowing white beard stood at the center, emanating an aura of wisdom and power.

 Beside him stood a man with dark hair and a sinister aura surrounding him. All eyes turned to the young man, captivated by his presence.

The young man locked eyes with Fray and, with steady steps, ignored everyone else and approached Fray with a smile on his face.

"Hello, Fray," the young man greeted.

Fray's expression turned cold as he stared at the stranger. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

The young man seemed taken aback. "You don't remember me!?" he exclaimed, his surprise evident.

Fray remained silent, his memory failing to recall any connection to this person.

Mina, one of the girls in the group, spoke up. "Wait, is it possible that you're Ferrit?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Ferritt? Do you mean the young master of the northern castle in the Lionar Kingdom?" Lisa chimed in, her curiosity piqued.

Ferritt's eyes lit up with recognition. "Yes, you're right. I'm Ferritt. It's truly unfortunate to find that you've forgotten about me in such a short period. I've been eagerly waiting for our meeting," he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Confusion clouded Fray's mind as he tried to make sense of the situation. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Ferritt chuckled softly. "Nice to meet you again, Fray. I hope you've become stronger since the last time we met." With those enigmatic words, Ferritt turned and walked away.

As he walked away, Fray's gaze followed him, his eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Ferritt's destination became clear as he approached the shadow of a towering tree, lying down with a peaceful expression. 

Just as Fray's attention was fixed on Ferritt, another blinding light erupted from the forest, causing everyone to shield their eyes. As the light subsided, four figures emerged, capturing the attention of the entire group.

The first figure to step forward was a woman of immense stature, standing at least six meters tall. She was adorned in animal skins, exuding an aura of primal power. Her piercing gaze swept across the gathering, commanding attention and respect.

Beside her stood a young man with blond hair, his eyes filled with determination, everyone present recognized him as Luke. Next to Luke was Jareth and Evelyne

As the group gathered together, Fray's fury simmered beneath the surface. The arrival of Luke, Jareth, and Evelyne stirred the scene that he watch before. The sight of his men dying at the hands of these three, but a deep voice resonated in Fray's mind, urging him to maintain control.

"Sir, please don't lose your control," the voice whispered. "in this exact moment you're supposed to die."