Tremors rampaged through the forest, spawning cyclones in the distance. In an instant, sinkholes devoured hundreds of trees, and a windstorm lifted fallen leaves and broken branches, unleashing a maelstrom of debris that tore through the vibrant vegetation.

“What the hell is going on?” Slim muttered, gazing at the wreckage beyond the grass field. Strangely, neither the tremors nor the windstorm breached the perimeter of the open patch.

However, a small protrusion formed at the center of the field, gradually expanding with each passing moment. Champions cautiously stepped back, retrieving weapons from their inventory. With the third trial underway, they couldn't afford to lower their guard among potential enemies.

“Greetings, everyone,” a squeaky, somewhat child-like voice filled the ears of the anxious champions. A figure leaped out from the protruding soil.

What the hell is that thing? Scott thought. He stared at the creature, its body and facial features covered in a thick mass of mud-brown fur. The only part not obscured was its shoddy hemp sandals, appearing to have been mended several times.

“My name is Deevok, and I’m excited to welcome you to the Syman Forest, the first stage of the third trial. If calling me by my name feels like too much, you can refer to me as the examiner; I'm fine with either of them,” the creature squeaked excitedly, twirling as if relishing the expressions of the bewildered champions.

“Without further ado, I'll now explain the details of the trial,” it said, remaining motionless once again. “You'll have three days to navigate through the Syman Forest, with the end goal of reaching the bank of the Syman Sea. There, a means to reach Togan will reveal itself. Should you miss it, survival until the next opportunity arrives will be challenging.” Deevok twirled again, chuckling excitedly. “Oh, that reminds me. There are only thirty exits in the forest, and each one can only be used once. You'll do well to find one of them.”

“Exits? What does that mean?” A lizardman asked, frowning.

Deevok danced, laughing even harder, displaying a series of questionable dance moves. “Exits are exits, my friend. I don't have to tell you more than that,” it giggled.

“Are we the only ones in the forest?” A member of the berserker group asked.

The surrounding champions glanced at the man, then back at the dancing examiner. Although they hadn't heard a whisper since they arrived, it was hard to believe they were the only ones in the massive jungle.

Deevok stopped dancing, panting slowly. “This playground was prepared specifically for all of you. Why would you need anyone else?”

Scott instantly frowned. This trial is going to get violent, he thought, glancing at Zara and Slim, who shared the same look in their eyes.

Naturally, several champions stared at each other, increasing the distance between themselves. With only thirty exits available, twenty people would have to remain in the godforsaken forest. It wasn't even certain that all members of the same party could pass since the exits could only be used by one person.

Amidst the tense silence, a low whistle echoed, drawing the attention of the champions towards Deevok. The hairy examiner twirled again, his words accompanying the rhythmic movement. “You might not grasp the significance of what I’m about to convey, but the grass field is a neutral ground. No fighting or harm is allowed here. Anywhere else, you can unleash your full potential. Ignoring this minuscule rule will result in severe consequences.”

The bewildered creature staggered slowly, continuing its message. “Don’t fret about the inclement weather. It won’t be lethal, though it may inflict a few broken bones here and there. Nothing resilient individuals like yourselves can't endure.”

A resounding clap punctuated the statement, and Deevok vanished into the earth mound, leaving its voice lingering. “Let the hunt commence. Best of luck,” it declared.

No one made a move; the champions exchanged looks, their minds processing various thoughts while the elements tore through the forest.

“Hey, when do we start moving?” Slim asked mentally, fixating on a massive cyclone in the distance.

“I'm not certain, but we can't be the first or the last. We can't assume everyone else hasn't memorized the map like us,” Scott replied mentally, scanning the other champions.

“Agreed. Being the first may raise suspicion, and being the last might lead to dire consequences,” Zara commented over the party channel. The brawler clenched her fists, her amiable disposition replaced by a bloodthirsty aura.

In a field with only seven possible exits, bloodshed seemed inevitable. The limited escape routes added an extra layer of complexity to the situation.

“Since this is a variant of the second district, we're going for the sixth path, right?” Slim asked. In contrast to the other champions, both Scott and the skeleton hadn't procured any weapons from their inventories.

Scott and Zara concurred with a nod; their focus directed towards the left path. The standoff among the champions lingered for another ten minutes. Then, a party of lizardmen sprinted toward the first path, while another charged towards the adjacent one. Before long, all the champions sprang into action with quick determination.

Scott, Zara, and a now disrobed Slim rushed towards the sixth path, scrutinizing their potential adversaries.

Thank goodness the berserkers opted for the fourth path. I can't help but pity those disciples of light. I can't fathom them surviving a clash with those maniacs, Scott mused, stealing a glance at the departing trio.

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He turned his attention toward the other groups sprinting toward the same path. Level 13 is the highest among them. Thankfully, there isn’t anyone above that here. We should be able to handle these guys should the worst-case scenario happen.

“Is the plan to secure our exits and advance to the next stage as quickly as possible?” Zara inquired.

“There's no need for us to engage in unnecessary battles,” Scott replied.

“Enough chit-chat, guys; let’s move,” Slim urged as he charged ahead of Scott and Zara.

“What's gotten into him?” Zara commented casually.

“He probably doesn’t want others to see him naked for too long. But he's right, though. We need to hurry up,” Scott said with an unseen smile.

The duo chased after the sprinting necromancer. Meanwhile, the champions who followed the same path and those who hadn't moved yet could hardly believe the speed at which the group ran. Unlike the hound extermination crew, no one ran at full speed because they were still cautious of the unfamiliar terrain.

“Could it be that they know something about this place?” a brawny middle-aged woman muttered.

Before she could deliberate on her conjecture, Scott, Zara, and Slim reemerged from the bushes; horror enveloping the features of the skeleton and feline.

At that moment, the remaining champions emerged from different paths, and ear-deafening screams cut through the howling winds. Some champions instinctively took a step back, a chill coursing through their spines as the biting winds struck them. In each of the seven paths, a mysterious creature, over twenty feet tall, loomed proudly amidst the hail of broken branches and swirling dirt. Their bodies were a grotesque amalgamation of bulging muscles and pulsating veins. One of the beasts gnawed on the severed arm of a fallen champion, its crimson eyes fixated on the group within the grassy field.

“What in the world is that?” a man exclaimed, stepping backward. The champions collectively retreated from the forest's edge, converging toward the center of the field. A shrill laughter soon reverberated, and Deevok burst forth from the mound.

“Did you enjoy my little surprise?” it giggled, twirling in a circle. “It's unfortunate that some of you met an early demise, but fear not, I'm confident some will survive. I forgot to mention, if you all remain here for an hour, those little darlings will be granted special permission to join the party on the grass field. I'm sure you wouldn't…” Deevok paused, a sinister aura erupting from its right side.

The examiner shifted his gaze toward the source of the mysterious aura; a masked champion with a darkened handle extending from his mask caught his attention. Beside the man, a feline companion scratched at her arms with razor-sharp claws. Surprisingly, her crimson blood didn't drip to the ground; instead, it hovered beside the champion, resembling a sentient entity. Several other skeletons had gathered around, joining the naked skeleton who now wielded a crystalline scythe, exuding an unmistakable aura of death.

Deevok pondered, “Hmmm… this could be interesting.”

Scott firmly gripped the handle of the hammer, and a deafening roar emanated from the darkness concealed within the mask.

You have unlocked your madness energy source! The War-Hammer of the Mad God is screaming in delight!

The champions, sensing the imminent threat from the hound extermination crew, swiftly withdrew. Simultaneously, Scott propelled himself forward with an explosive burst of speed, his target being the colossal hound.

“Zara, now!” Scott commanded, his gaze fixed on the looming monstrosity.

In a blink, the brawler vanished, leaving behind a gruesome trail of blood. Four rapid slashes resonated, and the massive beast crumpled to the ground, thick blood spurting from its severed ankles and wrists. The summoned entity, stained black by nether, materialized before the fallen creature, pressing its head firmly against the earth.

Astonished, the onlooker champions witnessed Scott's arrival, wielding his war-hammer. He swung the ominous weapon at the creature's head, resulting in a resounding crack followed by an explosion. A repugnant shower of blood and bodily fluids burst forth from the shattered head, as the lifeless corpse convulsed uncontrollably. Zara positioned herself in front of Scott and the summons, a radiant shield protecting them from the noxious downpour.

Slim slammed the base of his scythe on the ground twice, muttering inaudible chants with a sinister undertone. Nether erupted from the ground, synchronized with the necromancer’s eerie melodies, coiling itself around the corpse of the fallen creature. It tore through flesh, shattered bones, and dragged the remains into the abyssal pool.

However, the rancid creature’s blood took an unexpected turn, swirling midair before morphing into a miniature version of the cat girl. Zara promptly deactivated her shield, and the congealed blood merged with her gauntlets, staining the once-golden armor with a grim crimson shade.

Several champions retreated further; their unease evident. Deevok chuckled with excitement. In an instant, the massive corpse vanished into the nether-like abyss, prompting the hound extermination crew to charge once more. This time, Ossie and the other summons lingered at the periphery, their bloodthirsty aura focused on the remaining champions. No words were exchanged, but their intent was palpable.

“Why aren't you moving too?” Deevok queried, halting its dance. “They've already proven those little ones aren't invincible. So, is there any need to hesitate?” The examiner returned to its mound. “Well, you can do as you please—cower like chickens, assail those 'babies,' or tread the cleared path. Whatever your choice, remember, there's no fighting in the safe zone.”

Deevok plunged into the loose soil, vanishing instantly. The champions redirected their attention to the surrounding paths. The creatures in the other directions exhibited no reaction to the demise of their kin, and they showed no inclination to abandon their assigned posts. Meanwhile, the hound extermination crew had long vanished into the sixth path, leaving only Slim’s summons to obstruct the now guardian-less route.

A unanimous decision was reached, and the closest group to the path took the initiative. However, eight charred chains, originating from the berserkers, entwined the legs of the group, compelling them to the ground. Simultaneously, another group moved, but this time, Ossie and his companions intercepted them.

“Get out of my way!” a man bellowed, ready to attack the skeleton.

“Are you out of your mind? Didn’t you hear the examiner say we can’t fight in the safe zone?” his companion anxiously interjected.

“B-But they’re summons, not real people,” the man argued.

“Kick him out of the party, Thae. Let that fool gamble with his own life,” another man suggested.

The summons strategically positioned themselves in front of the path, neither attacking the approaching group nor allowing them to proceed. However, several champions employed different tactics to bypass the blockade. The berserkers hoisted themselves over the summons, while some champions diverted into the surrounding bushes. A particular group even burrowed into the earth before emerging on the other side.

No one lingered on the grassy field; however, the formidable creatures in the adjacent paths stood their ground, unmoving, as the windstorm relentlessly raged on.

Deevok surfaced once more from the earth. “What an exhilarating group. It's only a matter of time before they grasp the true treachery of this forest.”

The examiner chuckled softly before vanishing into the ground.