Chapter 269: Taking the Initiative (1/2)

A mark appeared on the top of her hand, signaling the commencement of this final stage. It glowed and like everyone else, she was whisked away and found herself in the dense forest. Immediately, she hid in the treetops and surveyed her surroundings.

”How strange...Is this some sort of formation?”

She felt a strange and very faint energy at the edges of the arena. Looking around, she no longer saw the coliseum walls but instead an endless forest.

”It must be to prevent any distractions from happening.”

It was clear to her that everyone had to focu on one goal, reaching the mountain peak.

”I hope that everyone is prepared. I will be entering now.”

The Grand Elder's voice echoed throughout the place, as this would be his one and only warning. After that was complete and utter silence, there was no wind, no steps, no movement. It was unsettling to the mind just how silent the arena had become.

Hundreds within this place and yet not a single breath of sound. They were planning, thinking, and deciding on their next move.

”I could choose to stay hidden or make my move. Which one would be better?” Ming Yue began to think.

In a place like this, she held the advantage and she should use it.

”We should travel through the treetops and eliminate the others. That would be the best way, to kill as many as possible while preserving our chances. It would be like Clear Spring Mountain again.”

Xue Yue's voice echoed in her mind, reminding her the forest battle that took place nearly a year ago.

”Yes, although this time, we are not killing anyone and none of them can be underestimated.”

Ming Yue rebuffed her, there was no need to mercilessly kill. This was a competition and not a fight to the death, she understood that.

”You could say that but you know that it is similar. This forest is the hunting ground, our hunting ground.”

Xue Yue spoke bluntly and Ming Yue did not speak for a moment.

It was true that this reminded her the Clear Spring Mountain, when her mind and soul first split and gave birth to Xue Yue. But this time the objective was much different.

”We should be covert and sieze the first move.”

As Xue Yue spoke again, the sounds of battle erupted on the mountain-side.

Ming Yue looked up from her position and found multiple figures already in the heat of battle. It was an intense fight that caused the mountain to tremble. A number of phenomena occured, adding to the chaos of this fight. There were only a certain group who could produce such a thing.

”Those must be the Inheritors and they're already on the mountain.”

Upon this sight, Ming Yue changed her plans.

”No, we shouldn't focus on fighting the others. The goal is to reach the top ten and the clearest way to do so is to climb the mountain and reach the peak. We will waste too much time doing anything else. We should eliminate whoever is in the way as quickly as possible.”

There was no time to waste, Ming Yue had to reach the mountains while the Inheritors fought.

She had to be quick and speed was something she was confident in.

As for the battle on the mountain, it was intense and only grew, garnering the attention of everyone else. Furthermore, the number of participants only grew as more and more Inheritors joined the fray. But it was not by choice that they wanted to fight.