CHAPTER 22: CH 22: THE COMBAT TEST [3]

I stood up back on my feet and stepped forward. My movements had a slight trembling in them as I was suddenly struck by a pang of nervousness, now that my turn had finally come.

Though I suspect most of it was due to all the bloody ravings of the old man.

As I was passing by him, he whispered under his breath.

"When you get back free time in your hands, recall the conversation we had. And don’t hesitate to ask my help, whenever you might need it."

Pausing mid step, I have a slight nod before continuing.

Seeing me approach, Reinhard finally came out of the runes etched on the floor. Flexing his arms, he smirked. "I would say be careful out there. Mr. Arlott wasn’t lying when he said all you need to do there is survive."

"Just an advice to you in return...Mr. Arlott seems to be a pure sadist. He happened to be describing me the various ways he would like to torture you...in fact, he was smiling in glee while explaining it all to me."

I went past the bewildered black haired and ignored the crazy shouts of the frail old maniac. Finally, I stood upon the runes. Or to be precise, on the blood sucking sun.

"Alright, are you ready?" Arlott asked.

I chuckled.

"As much as I could...yeah, I am."

No sooner had those words escaped my lips, the runes started glowing again. However this time as the bright radiance filled the room, I didn’t shut my eyes.

I didn’t need to as not a single ray could penetrate the slimy bubble that now covered me. It had appeared so quickly that one moment I had closed my eyes and the next moment, I was wrapped in it.

The surface rippled but didn’t touch me. It was almost as if it was cautious of me, as if it had a mind of it’s own.

And in few moments, I felt my body spin as a suction force drew me into another dimension. My vision narrowed to pinpricks as white light filled the rest of it.

Before I vanished, I heard a faint sound. It sounded as if it had been from somewhere quite distant...

"Best of luck..."

∆∆∆∆∆

My vision returned back as I slipped on the ground beneath me and struck a wall. Looking around me, all I saw was...mist.

All around me. At every single corner....wait, I can’t even make out the corners of the room. The mist was that thick.

And dark as well.

I felt the wall under my touch. My nose suddenly scrunched as a rotten smell invaded my nostrils and I leaned forward away from it’s touch.

Now what? Reinhard did say it was indeed all about surviving.

And Arlott said each of these tests were cartered according to our fighting styles. In my case though this room was certainly made keeping Henry in mind. Not Karl.

Could I even be more doomed? I sincerely doubt that.

I took a step forward.

’Need to star--’

*Whoosh*

A splitting sound disturbed the tranquility of the mist as I instinctively crouched with my back to the wall.

With a clank, something struck the wall just above my head. Right where my chest had been while standing.

Touching the wall, I came across the object...and as suspected, it was an arrow.

The metal surface was cold to the touch and was adorned by what were once fluffy feathers. Now all I could feel were spider webs on the coarse feathers.

’It seems this place wasn’t recently built...it probably just suited the needs to test Henry and they used it. And...the floors are clearly unsafe. Placing my foot carelessly shall set another trap free.’

At that moment, a thumping sound echoed throughout the place.

I looked up into the dark, misty space in front of me. The steps grew louder and louder.

This...

This... whatever it was, it was approaching me!

*Thump*

I got up and sliding up the walls moved sideways, slowly and with deliberate caution.

*Thump*

I waited for something to show up at the place I was. Only when it would retreat would I plan my next move.

Suddenly the steps stopped. An uneasy silence followed it.

However soon it was broken when a thundering punch slammed down on the wall or to be accurate, at the place I had been standing before.

Chunks of debris flew around, with few small pieces hitting me. The steps thumped again but this time it seemed to be retreating back to where it had come from.

...And through all of this, I remained grounded at my position unable to see a single thing.

The darkness now felt suffocating. But with no other option, I started sliding down the walls.

But as I took the next step...

*Whoosh*

An arrow struck the wall, just inches away from my forehead.

Then my ears picked up something.

’Not again...’ I thought as the thumping footsteps returned. This time however it was moving faster.

Without wasting any time, I slid back to the cracked walls again. And a second later, another section of the stinking wall was blown off.

My lips pursed into thin lines as I realised my grim fate.

The steps hadn’t returned back...

Meaning the monster was present just mere feet away from me.

I tried thinking. Back to the words of the old man, of Reinhard...and I realised they didn’t give any of us a weapon.

That’s strange given the level of monsterity we are facing.

Is the key to the entire contest using mana?

My head fell forward in disappointment as I suddenly realised why the room was dark. Completely dark.

Afterall Henry had the light element...not the Ice element, which cannot be even used in this eerie condition.

Just then, a breath fell on my shoulder.

’What the...?!’ I spun hastily as I caught a sharp object with my bare hands. My mouth made a screeching sound as pain shot up my arms.

Without thinking I leapt forward and enhancing my fist with mana drove it right through the underbelly of the assailant.

Or should have been....that is until the assailant vaporised into black shadows before the punch could even connect.

And instead of dealing damage to the assassin, all I heard was another thumping sound. This time right behind me.

"...Fuck."