Date: Year 23,000, month 1 day 5
POV of the commoner, The Tone of POV, is soft, sounds like a kid that just hit puberty.
I was running, desperately trying to keep up with the group. I didn’t want to be left behind, afraid of becoming a failure and an outcast. I was determined to prove everyone wrong.
My lungs burned, drenched in sweat from head to toe. The taste of dryness lingered in my mouth, and the salt from my head stung my eyes as it dripped down. Dizziness overwhelmed me.
Somewhere in the middle of the group, I trailed behind the leader. The prospect of returning to the base excited me as we turned a corner, though I had lost track of time; it could have been three or four hours of running.
The race followed a simple trail through the forest, looping back to the base. Happiness flooded me as the trail led toward the camp, and relief washed over me when I spotted the river.
Confusion struck as the leader and others suddenly stopped. The sun rose, intensifying the heat. Ignoring their reasons, my overwhelming thirst took precedence, and I jumped into the river, trying to take a quick sip.
Suddenly, something bit me, and I screamed for help as I was pulled deeper. "Someone help me!" Tears streamed down my face as the monster dug into my foot, turning and spinning. I couldn't comprehend its actions until it became unbearable. "My leg!" I cried louder. However, everyone looked at me as if I were beneath them, insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
In the red hue of my blood, I desperately tried to pull back my foot until I couldn't feel it anymore. I felt weak, like a failure. Regret flooded me, wondering if I shouldn't have left my parents.
No one helped me; they walked over my body. It was the muscle head who killed the monster and simultaneously lifted me out of the water.
His eyes held pity as he said in a soft tone, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to be attacked. I didn’t know that monster was in the water. I'm sorry, but I have to go.”
And he left me, even though he was genuine, he still left me. I cried and cried, covering my eyes in shame. I didn’t understand why I was so unlucky.
Then I heard a shuffle in the forest—something was there, waiting. Fear consumed me, and I gripped my chest, feeling a heartache.
third-person point of view
Students were emerging from the trial in groups; some arrived earlier than others. The camp started to fill with life again as they talked and laughed. Some were on their final breath, while others were covered in sweat.
After 45 minutes, a chubby student crossed the finish line. Many students looked at the trail they had just run, waiting to see who was coming. Ten minutes passed, and a figure in the distance appeared, covered in blood.
He was dragging his leg, he was missing his feet, then he collapsed. The crowd went silent as they waited for him. Then, he got up with mud and grass on his face. The crowd cheered as he got closer and closer, only for him to fall.
Bang! He started to crawl, gripping his hands in mud and dirt as he pushed himself out of the forest. The crowd cheered as he finally made it out, and Aaron smiled at his determination.
But it was past noon. The commoner stood up, smiled, and said, “I made it. I'm not a failure.”
As Clark was ready to rush towards him, everyone heard, "Mana Splash." The commoner's body was split in half, blood rushing out from his lower body like a fountain.
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Everybody stood in fear; it just happened. They didn't see what happened. One minute he was there, and then he was gone. Many girls screamed in fear, and some boys' faces were scarred in terror.
Luther appeared in everybody's view and said, “It is past noon. He failed.” Luther's words were a dagger to everybody; they couldn't believe how someone could be so merciless. He wasn't human.
Aaron appeared right before Luther and said in rage, “What did you do? Are you crazy? Why did you take an innocent life?” Aaron's voice echoed across the camp in thunder.
Luther didn’t answer, he was indifferent to everything, he only looked up to the sky and then looked into Aaron's eyes and said, “ I have warned you, do not test my patience”
Luther's eyes glow dark red as he saw Aaron clutching the handle of his sword, so he as he his head against Aaron's head and said” Do not test my fucking patience, I will fucking dye this fucking!!! forest in blood, you don’t fucking understand my anger, there will not be a next time”
At that moment everyone knew that if Aaron said another word, they would die a meatless death.
Turning around Luther said, “Follow me” Everyone trembled in fear, they didn’t know what they had signed up for.
Luther took the students to the end of the camp, they were facing millions of trees. Luther looked at the trees and said, “Your objective is to destroy a tree by yourself with your bare hands, I will provide a healing bath and dinner. After a week, I will analyze your progress.
Luther left the students to their task, he walked a few distances away from them and wielded his mana to create a huge pool, which was the size of an in-ground pool, that could fit a hundred people He toiled out herbs he had from 3 years ago from his dimensional ring and spread it pool. Then he wields his mana, to collect water from the river. A scream of water appeared in the sky and filled the pool.
He turned back around and looked at a student who stared at him with hatred, this student was releasing a bit of killing intent directed towards him.
Luther smiled at the thought, a cub bearing their fangs at him. “What is it?” Luther asked curiously.
“Why did you kill him?” Clark asked with pure anger and hatred, as he stepped closer to Luther without fear in the word.
“Are you a beacon of justice, a saviour almighty? I don't have to tell you my reasons; I can do whatever I please because I have the power, kid,” said Luther as he laughed at Clark's pitiful attempt at killing intent.
Luther then left Clark with a smile, but he stopped and said, “Kid, do not get yourself killed. This world is far more cruel. After all, humanity's nature is cruel and evil. Also, it’s called killing intent. It’s the intent to kill.”
Bang. Clark felt like he was standing in front of a beast. He was the prey, and Luther was the hunter. There's a common understanding that when humans or animals feel fear, their instincts kick in to survive. The first instinct is to run and flee. The second instinct is to fight, and the last is to freeze.
All of Clark's instincts died within him; everything shut off, and nothing responded to his will. He stood there, trembling in fear. That instinct wasn’t fright; he didn’t play dead. He only came out of true fear when Luther touched his shoulder and said in a cruel tone, “That is true killing intent. You should have the conviction and belief that you can kill. It’s not even believing in your ability; it’s pure belief that you will kill your enemy, and you don’t have that. Your killing intent lies within your muscles.”
As Luther finished his friendly lesson with Clark, he walked off with a sigh, but unknown to everyone, his nose bled. He was still holding back his demons. Everybody was beneath him, and it would take him one second to make everyone literally beneath him.
And unknown to everyone except Luther, Aaron clutched the handle of his sword. Aaron was ready for anything.
Pov of Clark
As Luther disappeared from view, a sense of foreboding hung in the air. I glanced at Aaron, who clutched the handle of his sword. In the shadow of the towering trees, I couldn't help but feel like an insignificant bystander in a story written by forces beyond my understanding.
Despite the overwhelming feeling of insignificance, I refused to give up. I couldn't afford to fail, not like my father. Turning around, I saw the stares of my fellow sect mates, frozen in fear. Ignoring the crowd, I walked through the dense gathering until I found a tree.
It was massive. While I didn't have much knowledge about trees, I understood that the larger they were, the older and stronger. Bang! I let my frustration out on the tree, feeling the recoil in my spine. Stepping back, I repeated the action.
Bang!
Blood dripped down from my hand, my fingers feeling numb. I examined the tree and noticed a scratch. It dawned upon me - this trial wasn't just about strength; it involved endurance and survival instinct. A smile crept across my face. This challenge encompassed everything.
Turning around, I saw that they were still staring at me. Walking through the crowd again, they moved aside, giving me a path. I was determined to test the healing pool.