The Night of Hunting Games

Before the bonfire party, the school's back garden was bathed in soft evening light. The air was filled with the refreshing scent unique to the night, and you could faintly hear the distant sounds of setting up the stage and occasional laughter.

Alex was leaning idly against a branch of night-blooming jasmine when he suddenly heard a rustling sound from the flower bushes.

He became instantly alert, staring at the bushes, thinking it might be a small animal. In the next second, a shadowy figure suddenly emerged from behind the flowers!

"!!!"

Alex's heart nearly stopped, and he almost dropped the soda in his hand. The other person was equally surprised, freezing in place and staring back at him with wide eyes.

As the moonlight fell, Alex finally saw clearly—it was Brooke.

The girl was holding onto a flower branch with one hand and tightly clutching her dress with the other, looking as if she had just been caught doing something"naughty." She coughed slightly, trying to regain some dignity,"Wh-what are you doing here?"

Alex tried to calm his racing heart, staring at her for a moment before slowly replying,"I should be asking you that, shouldn't I?"

Brooke looked annoyed,"I... I accidentally dropped my bracelet, and it fell into the flower bushes."

Alex raised an eyebrow, looking at her meaningfully,"So you just went in there yourself?"

"What else could I do?" Brooke wrinkled her nose, sounding justified but with a hint of guilt in her voice.

Alex couldn't help but laugh, stepping forward,"Alright, I'll help you find it."

The two of them squatted in front of the flowers, gently moving the leaves around. The air grew quiet, and the atmosphere became subtly and mysteriously soft. Moonlight gently bathed them, and the scent of night-blooming jasmine filled the air. Fireflies slowly danced under the tree's shade nearby.

Alex turned his head, sneaking a glance at Brooke. The girl was focused on the ground, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows under the moonlight, her lips slightly pursed as if she was both a little nervous and trying not to laugh.

He found it both amusing and... strangely heart-pounding.

"Found it!"

Brooke suddenly exclaimed, happily raising her hand. A silver bracelet lay in her palm, its star charm gently swaying in the light. She turned to Alex, her eyes sparkling like a hidden galaxy.

Alex paused for a moment, then looked away and cleared his throat,"Well... shall we go back?"

Brooke nodded, and they walked side by side towards the playground. Neither of them spoke, but their steps naturally slowed a bit.

In the distance, the bonfire had already been lit, illuminating half the sky and casting light on the figures heading to the party. Alex glanced at the unopened soda in his hand and, on a whim, asked,"Do you... want a soda?"

Brooke was taken aback for a second, then smiled lightly,"Sure."

The bottle was still cool with droplets of water. As Brooke reached out to take it, his fingers brushed against hers—soft, a little cool, but it made his heart skip a beat.

The wind gently blew, and the night seemed to become even more tender.

Just then, a few heads poked out from the third-floor window of the school building, with a girl calling,"Brookie, hurry up!"

The girl blushed as if she had been caught doing something sneaky. Fortunately, they were standing in the shadows of the back garden, giving her a chance to hide her embarrassment.

"I... I have to go!" she said hastily, turning and running towards the school building, her skirt swaying lightly in the night, leaving behind a faint scent of night-blooming jasmine.

Alex stood there, dazed, the warmth of the moment still lingering in his palm.

The bonfire's light reflected in his eyes, and a sense of longing filled his heart, mixed with a feeling he was reluctant to admit...

-----------------

Above their heads, the dark sky hid a spacecraft where Caron's voice rang with excitement. Across the universe, viewers watched eagerly, their eyes filled with greed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the new hunting game!"

"Today's target is a small native village on this blue-eyed planet. Let's take a look at the quality of these natives!"

Inside the starship, Caron slowly activated the holographic projection, broadcasting the live hunting game from all angles to the frenzied audience.

Caron was a professional host, mainly for interstellar treasure hunting shows. However, recently, the audience's interest had waned. This was his debut for a career change, and he felt both nervous and excited. To quickly establish himself, he decided to take a risk by choosing this wild planet and starting the most popular hunting game.

"Tonight, our hunters will face the natives of this low-level planet, including villagers, students, and teachers."

Caron stared at the screen, satisfied with the growing number of viewers. He knew that only continuous thrills and excitement could keep the audience's attention.

"Some of these natives have strong mental abilities, while others possess great physical strength. It looks like we're in for an exciting battle against our sharp-toothed hunters!"

However, deep down, he was slightly worried. What if the natives couldn't even last a single round?

"The first phase of the killing game starts in 10 minutes. Level one hunters are in position, and all 107 prey have entered the designated area. If anyone wants to evaluate the natives' strength or see the hunters' abilities, now's the time. After the three bells, the 10-minute countdown will begin!" he said coldly.

"After 10 minutes, the hunters will withdraw, and we'll count the survivors! Will these natives, armed with simple iron tools and wooden sticks, defeat the hunters, or will the hunters slaughter them? Let's find out!"

The number of viewers in the livestream rapidly increased, with comments popping up on the screen. Some were excitedly predicting how many prey the hunters would kill in a minute, others were discussing possible escape strategies, and some were estimating the number of survivors.

Caron saw these comments, and his excitement gradually overshadowed his unease. He knew that this kind of program could truly captivate the audience.

"Those who guess the number of survivors will receive a great reward!"

Caron's voice was full of temptation."Of course, you can also bet on the hunters failing. These hunters include genetically evolved native beasts and our high-tech combat machines! I can't guarantee you'll win money, but I can promise you'll have a night of frenzy!"

Caron's boss, Sebastian, who was a shareholder of a gambling company, had never been interested in this underperforming host. But tonight, the boss with a little mustache noticed the rapidly increasing viewers for one of his company's minor programs, sparking a bit of interest.

Sebastian found no joy in the usual indulgences of most bosses. His real delight was in watching his wealth grow. With a simple touch, a giant three-dimensional live image would appear in his study. This impressive display was his hobby and a sign of his status. Before making any decisions, he liked to see the power balance between the two sides. While it was only an estimate, it tested his insight, and he loved the challenge.

-----------------

The school was shrouded in deep darkness, with no lights inside. Only the bonfire in the front yard burned brightly, its flames dancing and casting flickering shadows. The firelight illuminated the tall school walls, creating twisted and giant silhouettes as if an ancient play were unfolding on a curtain.

In the dark corners of the corridor, a few young figures played hide and seek. Occasionally, they sprinted by, their laughter drawing light arcs in the night. At times, they hid in the shadows, holding their breath, waiting for the next ambush. Normally, such playful behavior was strictly forbidden at the school, but tonight was different. The rules seemed to have vanished with the night, leaving behind a sense of unrestrained freedom.

The faint light from the bonfire spilled through the windows onto the floor, adding a dreamy touch to the night at the school.

"Hey, want to join us?" came a cheerful call from a distance.

The boy looked towards the figures in the corridor, a hint of envy in his eyes. However, they were all older students and not familiar with him. He hesitated for a moment, then waved and turned to find his own classmates.

Yet, beneath the seemingly joyful night, darkness was silently growing in some corner.

"Is he really not coming over?" a low voice emerged from the shadows.

"Yes, he's already in his classroom."

"Tonight, without those meddling monks protecting him, is our best chance to strike! If we can offer him to Lord Gong, she will be very pleased!"

"But... is he really the one who will destroy the future of our dark organization?"

"Lord Gong personally calculated it. He is hiding in this school. No matter what, we can at least find some clues from him."

"Should I just take care of him directly?"

"Don't act rashly, and don't make too much noise."

As the voice faded, a shadow slid silently along the wall, flickering with firelight, moving ghost-like toward Alex's classroom. His steps were as light as a cat's, his breath hidden in the night. At the end of the corridor, two high school students lay on the ground, unconscious, seemingly already victims of a dark plot.

This night was destined to be anything but peaceful. While hunters lurked outside the school, the threat of murder spread quietly within...