Lin Yuxun mustered her courage and stepped toward the monster, its body bristling with arrows.

It looked like a saber-toothed tiger but larger, more muscular. Its fur shimmered in dazzling blue hues, a fiery red mane flowing down its neck. Two massive fangs gleamed crystal-clear, emitting an eerie glow. And this beast had six thick, powerful legs.

"The outside world must be crawling with killers like this, right?"

Lin Yuxun glanced around at the two Arrow Towers. Without them, Class 5 of Grade 1 from another world would have met utter doom just now.

"Who are we? Where are we? Where do we go?"

Lin Yuxun stared at her panicking classmates, these three questions echoing in her mind.

Leave? Risk being torn apart by monsters. Stay? The camp had no food or water—only a few wild fruit trees, possibly poisonous.

Everyone seemed blessed with gear by some otherworldly god, but they were just pampered high schoolers. No special powers. Starter gear meant nothing here.

This was reality, not a game. No virtual exit button existed.

"No! Others can panic, but I can't. I'm class rep. I know more about isekai games than any otaku—I've unlocked more CGs than they have!"

Lin Yuxun glanced down at the gentle swell of her cleavage beneath the white lace-trimmed dress.

"The gods gave me flashier gear than anyone else. Maybe it's a sign. I must lead everyone. Survive this other world!"

Her eyes sparked anew. Perhaps this was her destined path as the Holy Maiden.

She walked to the base of the Arrow Towers and called out.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Hey, handsome archers on the tower! Can you hear me?"

Silence.

"Archers... heroes..."

Still no reply.

"Nexus tower... first blood tower! Riot Games sucks~~~"

Lin Yuxun muttered the last line softly, cheeks flushed. Nothing.

"Why? What... is shooting arrows from up there?" A chill crept down her spine.

She sighed softly. At least the towers guarded them—as long as they stayed inside the camp.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted behind her.

Delinquent Zhang Dajian was nearly brawling with chubby Jiang Xiang over sending scouts outside. One was a gang leader; the other, a basketball team sub. It felt like Warcraft.

The Holy Maiden rushed over.

"Stop it, both of you!" Lin Yuxun's voice—sweet and high-pitched—cut through the noise. They paused, if only because she was class rep.

"Everyone, listen! Don't leave the camp. Monsters lurk out there—we can't fight them! Only under the Arrow Towers' protection are we safe!" she shouted.

"Stay and starve? You think this is a field trip? How do we get food? I'm dying of thirst, damn it!" Zhang Dajian yelled, his red crew cut trembling. He'd been tough on streets and schools, but the giant beast earlier had scared him witless—he'd forgotten the greatsword on his back.

"Starving beats dying out there!" countered Jiang Xiang from the basketball team.

"Who you calling dead? I'll kill you right here!"

"Try it! I'm not scared!"

"Stop fighting! Both of you!" Lin Yuxun cried out sharply.

"Remove the head... then it's edible. Heh heh..." A bespectacled otaku muttered in the corner, fiddling with something unseen.

"Hmph. This is clearly a state test. Don't underestimate AR tech. The government hides secrets. Authorities will come soon—maybe this is a secret live stream." A tall, blond noble boy named Lan Fangte closed his eyes, propping his forehead.

"Seriously?" Lin Yuxun asked weakly.

"It's all Mom's fault! She forced me into this 'prestigious' school! I warned her about the Seven Urban Legends... waaah..." A girl stomped and sobbed.

"What is this nonsense?!"

"I want to go home! Waaah..."

"Boring crap! Stupid isekai!" Zhang Dajian kicked the ground, shaking his head.

"Complaining won't help. Calm down. We need a plan..." Lin Yuxun fought back tears, forcing herself to stay strong.

"Shut up, holy maiden act! Got a plan? Spit it out!" Zhang Dajian shoved the slender Lin Yuxun hard.

Hungry and thirsty, tempers flared.

Amid the chaos, one girl stood silent. Blue-haired Ziwan—athletic, busty—didn't cry or complain. Her eyes held deeper worry: "Lin Luo... where are you now? Are you safe?"

Suddenly.

A deep, muffled roar tore through the forest, shaking the air. It triggered primal fear in every human ear.

*Whoosh— whoosh—*

A heavy flapping sound echoed from the distant sky. The students fell silent.

Fierce wind surged, howling through the trees. Camp debris flew wildly; classmates stumbled and fell.

"Yaaah—!"

Fragmented screams filled the gale. A massive shadow swallowed the entire camp.

Heads snapped upward in terror.

A colossal creature blotted out the sky, its wings wider than the camp itself, gliding low overhead.