The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 206: Hunt Has Begun

Chapter 206: Hunt Has Begun

The day of the hunt had finally arrived. The academy grounds buzzed with a mixture of excitement and tension as students gathered in the main square, waiting for the official start. Each group of students stood firm, assembled by year.

Among the crowd of first-years stood Adeline and Theresa, their contrasting demeanours setting them apart.

Adeline stood tall and composed, her gaze sharp and focused. Months of preparation had led to this moment, and she was ready. Her confidence wasn’t born from arrogance but from the hard-earned mastery of her powers and her determination to achieve her goals. She had a plan, and she wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—deter her.

Beside her, Theresa shifted nervously, wringing her hands and glancing around. She didn’t want to be here. The thought of venturing into the hunting grounds, facing monsters, and risking her life terrified her.

It wasn’t her idea to participate, but Lucas had convinced her otherwise. His casual suggestion, cloaked in what she thought was a concern, had planted a seed of insecurity in her. He had said it with such nonchalance, as though it were obvious she should compete.

"Are you really going to sit this out?" Lucas had asked her days before, his tone almost dismissive. "It’s an opportunity to prove yourself."

Theresa couldn’t stand the idea of him looking down on her, or worse, thinking she was weak. His words, though simple, carried a weight she couldn’t shake. Even now, as she stood among her peers, the doubt gnawed at her. She didn’t belong here.

But there was another reason she forced herself to stay: Adeline. Theresa couldn’t explain it, but she felt a strange sense of competition with her.

Adeline had always seemed so self-assured, so untouchable. And then there was Cassian, who, despite Adeline’s cold demeanour, kept hovering around her like a moth drawn to a flame.

In her mind, it was as if the two of them were locked in some silent rivalry. Cassian and Adeline... Lucas and... Her... So were they not counterparts? She could not lose to her, never.

Adeline’s presence only made her insecurities more glaring.

Lucas, of course, would have laughed if he knew what Theresa was thinking. He would have mocked her for daring to attach her name to his in such a way, for imagining herself as his equal or even a contender for his attention. To Lucas, Theresa was a pawn—useful, obedient, and easily manipulated.

As the headmaster’s voice echoed through the square, announcing the start of the hunt, Theresa took a deep breath, trying to steel her nerves.

She couldn’t let herself falter now, not when she had so much to prove. Adeline, unaware of the internal battle raging beside her, glanced at Theresa briefly, her expression unreadable.

The gates to the hunting grounds opened with a heavy groan, and the students surged forward, each driven by their own motivations.

For Adeline, it was about power and knowledge. For Theresa, it was about proving she wasn’t lesser. But neither of them could have predicted the challenges—and betrayals—that awaited them in the depths of the hunt.

The rules of the hunt were clear: no horses. This challenge was a true test of stamina, strength, and skill. Each participant was to rely solely on their abilities, pushing themselves to their limits in an environment designed to simulate the harsh realities of combat and survival.

Adeline adjusted her gloves, feeling the crackle of energy in her fingertips. The weight of expectation pressed against her chest, but she wasn’t afraid. She had spent months preparing for this moment, honing her powers and sharpening her determination. As she scanned the crowd, she caught sight of familiar faces.

Cassian stood to her right, his posture regal yet alert, the image of a perfect Crown Prince. Benedict wasn’t far from him, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. Adeline could tell they weren’t here just for the competition. They were watching her, their intentions clear—to protect her.

It frustrated her to no end.

She didn’t need protection. Not anymore.

Her gaze swept across the participants again, observing the mix of students with and without powers. The academy allowed anyone to compete, regardless of their abilities. After all, the monsters didn’t differentiate between those with powers and those without when survival was at stake. Every person’s effort mattered, and every skill was valued.

Adeline’s eyes narrowed as she searched for one person in particular—Lucas.

He was nowhere to be seen.

Her gut churned uneasily. Adeline had suspected Lucas of being up to something for a long time, and now his absence only added fuel to her suspicions. Why wasn’t he participating? It didn’t make sense. Lucas was in his final year, and this was his last opportunity to prove himself. The hunt was prestigious, and missing it would raise questions.

He specifically told her that he was going to participate and now he bailed.

The feeling in her chest grew heavier, but she pushed it down. She was no child to be spooked by shadows. She had grown stronger, wiser. Whatever Lucas was planning, she would face it head-on.

Adeline clenched her fists, feeling the reassuring pulse of her powers beneath her skin. The lightning she had struggled to control now responded to her with precision, crackling faintly as if eager to be unleashed. She had trained relentlessly for this, and she wouldn’t let anyone—friend or foe—belittle her efforts.

She wasn’t the same girl who had arrived at the academy months ago, uncertain and struggling to control her abilities. She had worked hard to be here, to stand among them as an equal, not as someone who needed constant shielding.

Taking a deep breath, Adeline let her frustration melt into resolve.

Prove it to them, she thought. Prove to them that you don’t need protection.

The Goddess’s presence brushed against her mind, a soothing, divine reassurance- she was not, but her company made her feel that she was not alone.

Through their connection, the Goddess had granted her insight during her training—guiding her to connect with her lightning and even revealing weak points in her enemies. The hunt would be no different.

Adeline’s "golden finger," as she liked to think of it, was finally proving to be invaluable. For so long, she had wondered if she could truly be useful if she could carve out her place in this world with her powers. Now, standing at the cusp of the hunt, she felt the first stirrings of pride in herself.

The dean’s voice boomed, signalling the start of the hunt.

Adeline started at a steady pace, her eyes scanning the environment for movement. Her senses were sharper now, her connection to lightning making her attuned to the smallest disruptions in the air around her.

Behind her, she could feel Cassian and Benedict lingering, their presence both comforting and aggravating. She knew they meant well, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they doubted her capabilities.

Adeline made a conscious effort to fan out, putting some distance between herself and the others. If she stayed too close, they might interfere. She needed to prove to herself—and to them—that she could handle this on her own.

As she ventured deeper into the hunting grounds, her connection to the Goddess sharpened. The divine voice whispered faintly in her mind, directing her attention to subtle signs in her surroundings.

"There," the Goddess murmured, her tone calm yet commanding. "Ahead. Two beasts. The one on the right has a weak spot at its chest. Strike there."

Adeline’s heart raced with anticipation. Her fingers tingled as she prepared to summon her lightning, the energy thrumming eagerly beneath her skin.

In the distance, she saw movement—two shadowy figures creeping through the underbrush. Monsters.

Unlike others, she was able to manifest her powers, whether it was holy power or lightning, they eventually were conquered by her. With this ability, Adeline made up a technique for herself. A ring of lightning. It surrounded her waist like an ornament.

It crackled with might but could not hurt her. Whenever a beast showed up she would grab it like it was a whip and strike.

Adeline crouched low, her instincts taking over. She calculated her strike carefully, recalling the techniques she had practised. Her powers might be rare and unique, but she had learned to combine them with the precision of fire-based techniques, creating a combat style that was uniquely hers.

The first bolt of lightning shot from her fingertips, striking true. The beast on the right collapsed with a painful roar, the crackling energy leaving its chest smoking.

For close range, she could not use her ring, and although it was a dead giveaway for her location, she welcomed the challenge.

Adeline smiled grimly, satisfaction surging through her.

The second beast lunged at her, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Adeline dodged, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with a second strike. This one wasn’t as clean, grazing its side, but it was enough to send the creature scrambling back.

Her victory was short-lived as the sounds of more beasts echoed through the trees. Adeline steeled herself, her breath steady.

This was just the beginning.

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