Chapter 20：Hazel (2/2)
”Monsters like that are common. Furthermore, there's something far more terrifying. As there is a limited number of insignia given every round, you need to watch out for other humans. To leave this place early and escape the monsters here, they would kill others for a better chance.”
”Each round?” Arthur asked with confusion.
”There are seven rounds before the world collapses.”
***
On the other side of the trial area, mana bullets rained through the trees and struck a giant rhino in the eye as it howled. The rhino charged toward the sharpshooter that positioned himself on top of a tree far away. As it wasn't aware of the person hiding behind the tree, it fell to the ambush of the two people and was soon dead on the ground.
”Good work, Fey. I still think you're better off without me.” Yuran put away his gun as he turned toward the gorgeous young woman who was busy taking away the Rhino's mana core. As she heard this, she pouted and started pointing fingers at him.
”I told you to stop saying that! Without your help, I wouldn't be here anyway!” Fey was unlike her usual self around Yuran. She acted like a spoiled kid making the latter chuckle and drop the subject. He then turned his gaze toward the tower in the distance.
”The Holy Crown…” His lips muttered unconsciously. The name was always like a dream for him as he knew he wasn't powerful enough to obtain it. But, the question of what if lingered in his mind.
”Someone is here.” His head snapped as he warned Fey about the incoming group of people. Soon, a group appeared in front of them. They wore black robes adorned with silver engravings that Yuran couldn't recognize.
”What family are you from?” Fey's eyes turned cold as she also couldn't recognize the group from any one of the seven families. There were five of them in the group with different statures. One person holding a black greatsword stepped forward and pointed the weapon at them.
”You don't need to know that. What you need to know is that you won't be leaving this place.” The man under the hood growled at them with a thick accent before the group attacked the two.
***
Arthur started with amazement as three ghosts surrounded Hazel facing the almighty bear. He couldn't have expected such an out of the ordinary ability from such a sweet person. He knew they weren't human ghosts as they looked nothing like it. Her ability allowed her to summon ethereal beings from other dimensions. The restriction was the time they were summoned and their strength. They only inflected magical attacks with zero physical damage.
Against lower-tiered monsters like this Steelfur Bear, it was more than enough. As the bear thrashed and clawed the surrounding ghosts, his attacks went through them as they used their weapons to strike the bear. The part that was stuck would turn into a blackish color and the bear continued to howl in agony.
As it figured out that he couldn't harm these things, he went after Hazel as she was the nearest to him. Unfortunately, Hazel seemed prepared as she agilely avoided his attacks. The bear kept missing and getting attacked until it fell to the ground helpless. The ghosts disappeared and only Hazel was left with a pale face.
”That's an awesome ability!” Arthur looked at the primitive-grade bear that was quickly turning a black color. He then saw a core leaving the bear's body and floating on top of it. He wondered if he could use this core to create a permanent rune but he was too embarrassed to ask for it.
”Not really, it drains a lot of mana and the creatures could be harmed by magic. I would be weak against a mage that used an elemental spell or a gunman with mana bullets.” Hazel shook her head and went to grab the mana core. Arthur felt grateful that she trusted him enough to tell him this. He couldn't deny that they built an instinctive trust as he saved her life and she told him about everything happening here. The duo then returned to a shelter they made, a cave that was hidden from inattentive eyes.
The night drew near ending Arthur's first day in this place. As they created some fire to make food, the two chatted idly. As they finished their meal and decided to take turns to guard the cave, Arthur asked for a favor he had in his mind.
”Can you help me hunt primitive monsters?”