Chapter 24 Iron Blood Trial (2/2)
”My feet belong to me, and I'll go anywhere I want using it. You have no right to judge me!”
He fought back, not showing any signs of the vulnerability Connie must've hoped to see after delivering her vicious taunts.
She seethed, sputtering at his comeback. ”Grace, why did you recruit such an arrogant nominal disciple?” The man in black cut in, a faint wicked smile marring his lips. Suddenly, an enormous intent to kill gushed out and painted their atmosphere with straining pressure. It was nothing compared to the terror brought upon by the descent of the sacred being, but it was enough to scare Ricky into putting a hold on saying any words of carelessness.
”Harald, you have no right to judge my disciple!” Grace argued, unaffected by the rising level of his animosity.
”Oh, Grace. How could you say such a thing? Both of us are core disciples of the Snow Sect. It's our collective duty to instruct our outer disciples together,”
Smirking, he basked in joy upon witnessing her face crumble in lividity. ”This guy doesn't even know how to act in front of his senior. I'd very much like to teach him about manners, but my disciple shall take over in my stead.”
”Jim, will you be willing to do this job for me?”
Harald turned and asked, knowing full well that his question was just for the sake of theatrics.
”Sure, Master Harald. An arrogant weakling like him would surely be in good hands during the Iron Blood Trial.”
Grace paid no heed to his jeers and asked him instead, ”Is this young disciple of yours at the eighth grade of Skin Refinement? Or higher?” Ricky visibly recoiled as his attention swept to Jim, a shadow of shock permeating his consciousness.
”Why don't we see for ourselves? I'll be looking forward to it,” he studied Ricky in contemplation, a sneer appearing on his cruel face as he did so.
”Fine, let's leave it at that.”
The conversation came to an abrupt end at his master's final words. Ricky followed her dutifully, marching out of the place as they headed towards their inn.
...
Watching the two figures recede into the distance, Harald went to Connie and said, ”Be at ease, that bastard won't survive the trial.” He whispered what he thought were words of comfort to Connie, his lustful eyes betraying any sincerity he wanted to impose on her.
Unfortunately for him, her attention already lay somewhere else. Far from him, or them, as she watched Ricky's form slowly disappear into the bustling city with obvious resentment. She wanted it so bad to kill Ricky right there and then, stopping at the right time when she realized that she was still with her companions. She promptly pulled herself back to her senses the moment she heard Harald's voice addressing her. ”I'm so grateful!” She thanked him profusely with a charming smile, barely preventing herself from cringing after noting the vulgar smile he sported.
Unbeknownst to him, her beautiful, mesmerizing eyes were all a facade for the brewing anger beneath it.
She pursed her lips in well-hidden contempt, disgusted by the lasciviousness he exuded in thick, suffocating plumes.
...
”Master Grace, what's the identity of that Harald?”
Ricky sat across from Grace behind their wooden table. Their previous encounter had been far from forgotten; a nagging thought that itched on the back of their minds as they continued on their soundless journey to their temporary shelter.
”He is ranked five among the core disciples; a member of the Casting Faction,” she replied, exhausted from her mental battle with Harald earlier.
”About Jim, you should be careful; he's ninth place among the outer disciples. As far as I'm concerned, his Skin Refinement had also reached the ninth grade.” He was stunned, struck with awe for his future rival.
”You mean, he ranks ninth among the Ten Outer Disciples?” He knew the odds of success were slim in a battle with Jim, but this didn't mean that he would back down. He had never lacked confidence in the face of adversity, and he wasn't planning to lose his morale now.
'If I can't beat up a warrior at Jim's level, how can I possibly fight against the Refinement and Casting Faction in the future?' Ricky clenched his fists in anticipation; the stronger his opponent was, the more he would be eager to fight.
...
Three days later, the Iron Blood Trial begun as planned.
The outskirts of the Lion King Mountains had converted into a field that accommodated the preparing warriors for the event.
With their tokens of entry in hand, they waited anxiously outside the entrance to the test area.
A few minutes passed; a gust of freezing wind started to blow, serving as a coincidental signal for the drums to beat in tandem with the entrance of Benson, the master of the Lion King Castle, in the venue.
”Everyone! I must remind you of the dangers you will undoubtedly face once you go beyond the gates. I too trekked these same trails in the past and survived solely due to my strength. And so, the Lion King Castle will not carry the burden of guilt caused by your deaths! You have come here knowing that it will be ruthless, and only the strongest will have the honor of being the last ones standing.”
Benson let himself scan the crowd with minimal interest and persisted on, ”As per to the rules of this trial, I will inform you all of your tasks. You are to survive out in the wild for a month, and the top three warriors to succeed in killing the most ferocious beasts will win!”
”But of course, if any of you were to come out while the trial is still taking in place, you will be instantly disqualified.”
Murmurs surged from the competitors, growing louder and louder as Benson's address neared its end.
”Now, shall we begin?!”
Roars akin to the beasts, they would soon be hunting emerged from the warriors, a deafening sound that shook the mountains as they were all drowned with the high, frenzy energy their voices carried along.
Amidst the chaos, disciples of the Lion King Castle attempted to calm the mass of people as they approached them, delivering a small, black piece of wood to each trial taker.
”That is called ancient ironwood. It's meant to witness and record your fighting moments!” Benson explained, leaving the troop to inspect the foreign item.