Scene 1 - 2nd Examination Begins!
Time passed by in a blink of an eye, the contestants were spread out on their groups taking it easy or battling for points it was the seventh day and everything was going well.
The contestants didn't really know what day it was with no sun to tell the time a few of them felt irritated by this notion.
A notable sized group led by Jayce and Diana were walking confidently together battling with monsters that crossed their path. This group, when finished with each battle, would be split the talismans evenly to those who fought.
With her giant greatsword on her back, Diana laughed wildly watching her group slaughter their way through beasts like paper, “Didn't I tell you Jayce? A group would work! This exam is too easy humph!”
Jayce walked alongside the ex-princess with one eye closed, “This feels too easy princess I feel that this plan will fail.”
Waving her hand away Diana continued, “You worry too much. Ever since the first day, we haven't seen one of those 'Monsters’ coming around and messing with us. And look everyone in the group has more than 100 points! Some of us even have close too two hundred what possibly could go wrong?”
A foreboding feeling filled Jayce’s stomach at Diana’s overconfidence and soon that feeling comes to fruition. An hour before the seven days passed a voice was heard throughout the entire labyrinth of a lovely voice resounded for all to here.
“Hello, there potential Junior Apprentice brothers and sisters! Congratulations on making it halfway through the exam this big sister is proud of you! Now for some great news, the second exam is starting!”
Whispers of unease came from contestants wondering what this other exam entrailed. Letting their minds wander for a tad the cheerful girl next words made the contestants shudder in fear, “The twelve ‘bosses’ shall be released into the labyrinth hunting you! But don't worry if they catch you all you have to do is pay the 100 talisman fee! You will then be 'safe’ for 24 hours!
If you don't have enough talismans to pay the fee then you can only blame your bad luck and fight one of my Senior Apprentice Brother or Sisters!~
Oh yeah, I should mention that they're at the 9th HBR level as well, so good luck fighting them if you have to! Last but least they won't be hunting you 24 hours a day they will only hunt for 8 hours.
This ends your briefing Juniors I wish you good luck in not being caught! The ‘bosses’ will be released in one hour from now happy hunting!~”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
With that, the voice cut off leaving the contestants in the labyrinth stunned at what was to come. Even the good air surrounding Diana’s group turned sour at this point as the group intentionally or unintentionally started to form groups of twos and threes.
It seems that greed had returned to the group as people started eyeing the points on their fellow contestant's arms. Seeing this Jayce gave Diana a look, ‘I told you so princess.’
To which Diana rolled her eyes and moved forward before anyone started something that couldn’t be taken back, “Ladies and Gentlemen don’t let this new exam divide us! As long as we face these bosses together we can easily win! They are only at the 9th HBR level they are not some monster we can face.”
Despite her best intentions another youth stood forwards laughing at her, “Dear princess you can say that since you have two hundred points what’s to stop you from leaving if the fight gets too tough? Franky with things how it is none of us will pass this way so I suggest…”
A foreboding feeling crawled over Diana’s stomach feeling something amiss widened her eyes, “Don’t do it!”
The youth didn’t bat an eyelash as he stabbed a dagger into a nearby contestant and then twisted the blade making the victims eyes grow wide full of anger. The victim tried to counter-attack at this moment but the savage youth who stabbed him ruthlessly tore open his guts spilling out intestines on the ground.
Overtaken with pain the victim held his guts in his hands as blood from his lungs was coughed up. Words struggled to form into something meaningful, “R-re-return…”
A glow appeared about the youth dragging him out of the labyrinth with his wounds so heavy no one thought he’d make it help in time. Witching the eyes of the youth as he disappeared made her feel mad at herself for not releasing sooner this youths plans.
Unhooking her greatsword from her back Diana rushed straight towards the youth screaming with fury, “Duyu! You dare strike down a comrade I shall have your head and bury it with him!”
The youth smiled with a jesting smile as he ran away in the other direction not intending to take on a greatsword using only a dagger. In her fit of rage Diana almost didn’t notice three attacks coming at her from the back, left and right of her.
Gritting her teeth Diana charged at the closest attacker to her left and smashed away his spear with her greatsword.
In trust, Diana yelled, “Jayce get the guy behind me, Garundi deal with the right! Strawberry shoot Duyu’s legs out.“
Giving her orders out Jayce impaled the guy behind Diana with his spear, while to her left Garundi a big tall dark skinned man smashed the contestant away into the sidewall. With a clear shot of Duyu, the rabbit beast girl Strawberry took aim with her repeater crossbow and shot out Duyu’s legs making him fall flat on his face with a scream.
With a snort, Diana knocked back the spear user and dashed forward towards Duyu. Fear crept over Duyu as he tried to crawl away pitifully, but Diana was soon upon him with vengeance.
Holding her blade high like an executioner Diana's eyes were half closed full of disgust, “Repent in your next life Duya for your betrayal.”
Feeling the hand of death on him Duyu tried to speak, “R-r-retu--”
Diana’s blade swung downwards without mercy severing his head sending it flying away in an arc through the air. Blood splattered like a fountain spraying everywhere as Duyu’s body twitched underneath Diana.
Turning around expressionless the group of contestants was silent at the sudden turn of events. Flicking her blade to remove the blood Diana resheathed her blade and growled seemingly still mad, “Whoever wants to kill a comrade will have to answer my blade!”