I'm currently in the middle of the third trial of the sanctuary.
Unlike the previous trials, which took place indoors, this one takes place outdoors in the wilderness.
The aim is to protect a sapphire tied around my neck as a necklace for a period of time from lurking creatures.
Or find out why the monsters covet the sapphire.
The monsters won't show up for another 24 hours, giving candidates time to get used to the environment.
The difficulty of this test is directly proportional to the strength of the individual.
Indeed, the more powerful a person is, the more fearsome the monsters they face.
This ensures that each participant is pushed to his or her limits, regardless of initial level.
And those who put their bodies to the toughest physical tests will notice a marked increase in strength.
The process of intense training and continuous combat acts as a catalyst, significantly accelerating their physical development.
As a result, not only do the challenges become increasingly difficult, but they also offer a unique opportunity for participants to rapidly strengthen their bodies and improve their abilities.
That's why I forced myself to do nothing during the second event, for fear of facing some fearsome monsters.
"Let's get started without wasting any time", I said, seeing a small island in the middle of the lake.
It took me all day to prepare the ground.
As I found comfort in my hard work, the sunset warned me of the imminent start of the ordeal.
Although I'm not sure I'll survive as I have in previous events, I'm confident in my preparations.
As I tried to regain my courage, the beasts began to emerge one by one from the darkness.
* * *
"But this is a joke!?"
The letter bluntly tells me not to eat the chicken.
"Then why did you prepare it!?"
I even notice smoke slowly escaping from the dish, rising into the air like wisps of mystery, carrying with them the tantalizing aromas that titillate my senses and fuel my imagination.
"Holy shit!!!"
In a fit of rage, I overturned the table, sending the chicken flying with it.
The rodents wandering around the room didn't miss the opportunity to eat the food off the floor.
"At least I'll be fixed"
The rodents wandering around the room, carefree and hungry, immediately seized the opportunity to feast on the feast spread out on the floor, ignoring any potential danger.
"Finally, I'm going to have my answer."
If the rodents show no signs of illness after devouring this chicken, it will invalidate the letter's claims or indicate that it is harmless to them. Or maybe the letter is telling the truth.
Squatting a little further away, I scrutinize the rodents, observing their reactions, looking for the slightest anomaly that might confirm or refute my doubts.
After five long minutes of anxious waiting, no change occurs.
"I knew it! What!?"
Just as I was about to rejoice at finally being able to savor that delicious chicken, a shiver of horror runs through me as the rodents begin to fall, one by one, victims of an invisible and deadly force.
"What should I do?"
Unlike the first trial, when I felt no need to eat, this one my stomach seems to want to cry out.
"Why not try these mushrooms?"
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I think they're the only thing that seems edible here.
"Let's taste it."
*Eating
"Yeah, why not?"
This mushroom literally has no taste, I like the feeling of chewing water.
That being said, my hunger is diminishing.
...
...
...
Two days later
*Eating
"Why?"
*Eating
"Why did it become foul!?"
At first, when I take a bite of mushroom, I find its taste quite acceptable, perhaps even pleasant. However, as I continue to eat it, I notice that something changes.
The flavors seem to become more intense, but not in the way I'd hoped.
The taste I found acceptable at first gradually becomes unpleasant, even disgusting.
The subtle nuances that made this mushroom so delicate seem to evaporate, giving way to a bitterness or acidity that puts me off.
Perhaps it's simply a saturation of my taste buds.
Whatever the case, what was once a pleasant taste experience is gradually turning into an unpleasant one that I'd rather avoid.
What made me most angry was to find that, despite my best efforts to keep up with the challenge, other tempting dishes were added alongside the chicken.
The crispy golden fries, accompanied by ice-cold soft drinks, further fueled my already present sense of hunger.
It was as if the ordeal was playing on me.
I wondered if all this staging was deliberate, designed to push me to the brink of frustration.
"Damn it, was this ordeal finally going to end?"
* * *
In the middle of the night, guided by his well-developed nostrils, a wolf wanders through the tall grass, attracted by the smell of food.
Once there, the wolf was about to take a bite, when suddenly a trap was triggered, trapping him in a wooden cage.
It's been a dozen now
Ten days have passed since the start of the ordeal.
All I do is capture animals in a cage, baiting them with food I've stored in my inventory.
I'll be needing them in the next few days.
If memory serves me correctly, the first to arrive will be terrestrial creatures, followed by those from the novel.
The duration of the ordeal varies from person to person: it can last two weeks, a month or even longer.
However, the main character has been fighting monsters for a whole year, because he is the strongest of the children sent to the sanctuary.
It's important to note that time passes differently for each individual from the third trial onwards, without any influence on the outside world.
...
...
...
At dawn the next day, before the sun had set.
A small, deformed, hideous creature with olive-green skin, a deformed face with large, piercing eyes and pointed ears, stands before me.
It's equipped with rudimentary armor that seems almost too big for it, and a spear that it brandishes with determination, ready to attack at any moment.
"A goblin!?"
Surprise colors my voice as I realize the threat standing before me.
These creatures are known for intelligence comparable to that of humans, but tinged with malice and cruelty.
Our eyes meet briefly, but he seems more interested in the sapphire around my neck than in my presence.
His hungry gaze fixes on the jewel, almost completely oblivious to my presence.
Taking advantage of his obsession with the sapphire, I remove it from my neck and place it prominently atop my island.
"It works," I murmured to myself, watching the goblin's reaction.
Seeing the jewel unprotected, the goblin rushed towards it, his greed burning hotter than any caution.
A bridge, which I had hastily built for lack of time, stretches between the goblin and the precious sapphire. Without hesitation, the goblin dashes across the bridge, taking no risks by running over it.
But the bridge, weakened by his haste, gives way under his weight.
The goblin falls into the water below, his armor dragging him to the bottom.
Despite his swimming ability, the heavy armor condemns him to certain death by drowning.
However, I'm aware that he's not alone; I can see other goblins hiding in the bushes, closing in on him in numbers - at least fifty of them.
Knowing their cunning nature, I expect them to adopt a different approach after seeing the death of their companion. Some advance cautiously towards me, learning from the previous mistake.
"Hey hey," a smile involuntarily escapes my lips.
Unfortunately for them, the bridge is riddled with traps. With a swift movement, I free a vine attached to the underside of the bridge, sending them all tumbling into the water.
I celebrate my victory as their companions drown. At first, the goblins didn't seem to be paying any attention to me, but now they're all determined to see me dead.
Their goblin leader gathers his troops and begins to strategize.
When they've finished, a collective smile spreads across the goblins' faces.
Why are they so confident? This question swirls around in my head as a group of goblins remove their armor.
Do they intend to swim all the way out here?
Seeing my surprise, the goblins' smiles intensify and they rush into the water to join me.
However, I feign fear to encourage everyone to jump in, but some of them stay on the bank.
It's a pity, I'd have preferred them all to come and get it over with quickly.
I head for the cages I'd hidden under piles of leaves out of sight and throw them into the water, checking that they're all open.
Despite my strange actions, the goblins continue to swim here.
Just as one of them is about to set foot on my island, it is abruptly pulled to the bottom of the water, while splashes of blood appear on the surface.
The goblins stop in their tracks to take in the situation, but it's already too late.
The crocodiles I'd captured and starved for days attack every goblin in the water.
The goblin chief's triumphant smile turns into a grimace of frustration at the sight of his soldiers dead without being able to defend themselves.
Now I wonder what they're going to do.
The lake is infested with crocodiles and the bridge is booby-trapped.
"Wait, where are they going!?"
Yet, to my surprise, they all retreat.
Strange, abandonment is not usual for them. Perhaps it's a strategic withdrawal.
If so, what are their intentions? Nevertheless, I remain vigilant.
Two hours pass and night falls quickly. Maybe they really have given up.
Just as I'm about to take a rest to regain my strength, something whizzes past me, narrowly missing me.
What was it?
Turning around, I noticed an arrow stuck in the tree beside me. Looking in the direction of the shot, I see dozens of reddish eyes glowing in the darkness.
Thanks to the clarity of the moon, I can discern the culprits: the goblins have returned, but this time they're all armed with bows.
"Oh no!"
this time I hadn't planned on it.