Episode 13
#13
For a moment, the expressions of those nearby went blank.
They couldn’t hide their astonishment at the actions the man was displaying inside the curtain.
“What the? Just what kind of skill does he have?”
“Hah…….”
The man simply stood still in his spot, merely swinging his hands.
The speed of each hand movement looked light on the outside.
However, the monsters were swept away by those seemingly light motions.
The wings of numerous Bigbis were torn, and some even had their bodies burst apart; then, the summoned Kon Dogs were punched right through their torsos by the swung fists.
It didn’t seem like much power was put into those hand movements, yet the results were devastating.
However, when about six Kon Dogs had been summoned, the man finished them all off and then moved his steps outside the curtain.
The people watching that scene couldn’t help but question the man’s actions.
Because he still looked composed.
Haron looked at the man and opened his mouth.
Somehow, his voice contained a mischievous hint of laughter.
“Do you not need to do more?”
“Yes, well…… I thought this might be enough.”
“I see.”
To my words, Haron simply nodded calmly.
If he told me to do more, I could do more, but this much was enough.
After all, this trial was merely for show, and the reward for the first trial Haron had opened was nothing but points.
Thinking about the contents of the second test, I judged this level of record to be appropriate, so I stopped.
“Now then, we shall give out rewards according to the records set by the survivors.”
Along with Haron’s words, a notification message appeared before me.
[15,400 points are given as a reward.]
The other survivors had probably received a similar message.
Of course, their expressions were subtle.
Because the reward was points.
“I have a question.”
Then, one of the survivors opened his mouth toward Haron.
That survivor’s question probably represented the doubts of everyone gathered here.
“What can these points be used for?”
“I was about to explain that now.”
With those words, Haron looked around and opened his mouth.
“During the trials of the Sacred Flame Battle, the survivors will be given various benefits. One of them is a benefit called the Shop. You can use points at this shop to purchase whatever you desire. Of course, for now, please use me to make your purchases. The authority to use the shop is only given to those survivors who safely complete the Sacred Flame Battle.”
“Then…… what does the shop sell?”
“It sells everything necessary for survival. You can think of the shop as the greatest benefit given to you for participating in the Sacred Flame Battle.”
Just as he said, the shop sold everything.
Food including weapons, and items necessary for survival, etc.
In the first place, the shop system was something the Constellations created to earn points from humans.
Of course, I had no intention of using that system, nor did I need to.
There was a shop on the Sky Island, so there was no need to go out of my way to use this one.
Moreover, the Sky Island was twice as cheap.
“I shall judge that this is a sufficient answer. Now, I will begin the next trial.”
Starting with his words, a single number appeared above the heads of some survivors.
Haron confirmed that the numbers had appeared and continued speaking.
“There will be survivors above whose heads a number has appeared. This is the ranking of the trial just now. Of course, there will also be those without a number. The numbers have appeared only for those who set records from 1st place up to 20th place. From now on, please form groups centering around those with numbers above their heads. Of course, those within the ranking may also team up with someone ranked slightly higher. The next trial will begin after that.”
At Haron’s words, the people who had been watching for cues began to move.
First and foremost, those without numbers swarmed toward those with numbers.
* * *
The number that appeared above my head was not a very high one.
At best, around 18th place? The second highest from the bottom.
Of course, this was the rank I had wanted.
Since I already knew the contents of the second trial, I had finished the first test moderately.
I didn’t need that many people.
However, contrary to my expectations, quite a lot of people gathered around me.
“Um…… if it’s alright, would you please pick me as a teammate?”
“Ah! Me too! I have a skill that can be of great help.”
Why are these people doing this?
Thinking normally, shouldn’t they team up with those in the top ranks?
Not someone who placed second from the bottom like me.
The scene I showed during the trial was somewhat eye-catching, but anyone with a skill could have displayed such actions.
Yet, not just one or two, but around twenty people were gathered in front of me like this.
As I wondered, Noah opened his mouth.
[Master, it seems the Constellations are interfering.]
‘The Constellations?’
[Yes. Would you check the messages?]
‘Yeah, sure. Show me.’
Along with my words, messages from the Constellations appeared before my eyes.
Most of them were familiar Constellations.
[The Constellation ‘Fairy of Pure Flame’ says to definitely team up with that man.]
[The Constellation ‘Leisurely Wings of Spring’ recommends that teaming up with that man would be comfortable.]
[The Constellation ‘Lion of the Silent Forest’ finds it strange that someone with such strength would produce such a record.]
[The Constellation ‘Ruler of the Solitary Tower’ watches the situation with interest.]
Ah…… I roughly understand the situation now.
It seems the Constellations who watched yesterday’s gate raid told their contractors to team up with me.
It was…… incredibly bothersome.
I didn’t need that many teammates.
I politely opened my mouth toward the swarming people.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already decided on my teammates. Please look for someone else.”
Leaving only those words behind, I unhesitatingly pushed through the crowd and left.
The place I headed toward was I Sina, who was receiving offers from those in the high ranks.
Because their eyes had been fixed on me ever since I took the first trial.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Ah! Mr. Hancheol!”
“Mister!”
I Sina and Hayun welcomed me gladly as I approached.
I also looked at them and broke into a wide grin.
“That’s a relief. You’re alive.”
“Yes, somehow. Rather than that, since it’s come to this, would you like to join my team? It’s better to team up with someone you know than a stranger.”
“Excuse me, just a moment.”
Then, the survivors who had arrived first and were listening from behind opened their mouths toward I Sina.
“Even if you know each other, I hope you’ll think a little deeper about this.”
“I agree with what that person said. As I see it, this Sacred Flame Battle doesn’t seem to guarantee safety very much. Wouldn’t it be better to team up with someone with a higher rank, at least for safety?”
They were all survivors belonging to the 1st and 5th rank groups.
Well, although I Sina and I Hayun’s records were low, the strength they displayed was enough to catch the interest of those in the ranked brackets.
Moreover, the fact that she was the owner of that shop also played a role, making her a talent they couldn’t easily let go of. For now, I spoke to I Sina.
“Whatever it is, you have to make the choice, Sina. I’ll leave it to your choice.”
Along with those words, I immediately spoke to Noah.
‘Noah.’
[Yes, Master.]
‘Relay my words to Sina.’
[Yes, understood.]
Ding-.
[■■■ tells you to team up with the man before your eyes.]
“Ah!”
The moment I Sina saw the message window that appeared before her eyes, she urgently opened her mouth to me.
“Yes! I’ll team up with you, Mr. Hancheol.”
* * *
“But how did you end up participating in the Sacred Flame Battle?”
“Uh…… I was originally going to go back, but some Constellations came to the shop and said it would be beneficial to participate.”
Well, it was indeed beneficial to participate, just as she said.
Because you could receive many benefits just from participating without necessarily having to achieve high scores.
“Rather than that, Mr. Hancheol.”
Then, I Sina opened her mouth with a slightly anxious face.
“Um…… is it alright if we don’t recruit more teammates?”
“Mister, looking around, we’re the only ones with just three people.”
I think I knew what they were worried about.
As Hayun said, looking around, there were many groups that had formed teams of at least nine or ten people each.
I opened my mouth with a wide grin toward them.
“I’ve already recruited the other teammates.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Huh? When?”
“Just now. Over there.”
With those words, I raised my hand and pointed in one direction.
They turned toward the direction I pointed, and their mouths fell open wide in an instant.
“Ah!”
“Wow! Mister, you already teamed up with the robots?”
“Yeah.”
They smiled brightly as if relieved by my words.
However, the situation was unfolding in a rather amusing way.
“Um…… would you please join our team?”
“Please. Join our team.”
The robots were also receiving offers from the survivors.
No, I hadn’t expected that they would be getting offers.
For now, I approached the robots together with them.
Then, the robots that spotted me tried to kneel on one knee toward me.
[[[Ma-.]]]
‘Don’t kneel.’
[[[……Understood.]]]
For some reason, the voice had a somewhat sullen tone to it.
Well, anyway, with this, the group’s fighting power was sufficient.
Now, all we had to do was wait until the others finished picking their teammates.
* * *
“It seems all the groups have been formed.”
Haron looked around and opened his mouth.
Just as Haron said, a total of 10 groups had been formed.
Of course, among them, there was also a group where fighting power was conspicuously concentrated.
A group formed by gathering those from 1st to 5th place.
It was a group of around 20 survivors.
“Now, I shall begin the trial.”
Along with Haron’s words, a blue hologram rose from his palm.
The hologram that appeared took the form of a monster.
I know that monster.
Because it was a monster I had seen so much of on the Sky Island that I was sick of it.
“This monster is called Fredaton. The monsters are divided into ranks from 9th grade to 1st grade according to their strength, and this monster corresponds to the 8th grade.”
At those words, the survivors began to murmur.
Perhaps the survivors had seen that monster at least once before, which was why they were murmuring like that.
I may have seen it often and hunted it a lot, but Fredaton was not a monster to be taken lightly.
Who could easily catch a flying monstrosity the size of a tiger?
“Do we have to go out and kill that monster?”
One of the survivors asked.
It was a woman named Sin Yua, the leader of the 1st place group.
However, contrary to expectations, Haron began to shake his head.
“No.”
Haron looked at the survivors and continued.
“The trials I give focus on survival. The main objective of the second trial is to survive.”
His words were the beginning.
Saaaaah—.
Numerous gates opened in the air.
They were gates with a radius of about 3 meters.
When people’s gazes turned toward the gates that had appeared in the air, Haron’s words continued.
“In 10 minutes, monsters called Fredatons will pour out through those gates. Please survive for 8 hours against the onslaught of the Fredatons.”
At those words, the survivors’ faces turned ashen in an instant.
As if he didn’t care about such expressions on the survivors, Haron’s calm voice continued.
“I shall give you 10 minutes of preparation time to form your formations. Please survive.”