72 A Touch of Death (1/2)
Plink! Plink! Plink!
The sound of various pills, treasures, and other space rings quickly filled Lineir's space ring at a terrifying rate. He was literally sprinting deeper into the trials while grabbing treasures as if they were grapes on a vine. Mei's concealment techniques made him into something of a ghost to the weaklings fighting outside.
”These retainers are so weak. Any Chosen who hasn't gone deeper at this point is also weak! I may as well use this chance to upgrade my inventory.” Lineir's thoughts ran along these lines. He had heard everything from that first youth. While there were only 1000 Chosen in the entire trial, each of them had been allowed to bring several retainers depending on their status. The retainers had to be within the same age bracket as the chosen however. Furthermore, it was unlikely for the retainers to be particularly powerful as anyone with near the same level of power as the Chosen would be a Chosen themselves and would not settle to serve another usually. Except for a few of the higher level planets and sects, the retainers were actually just here as helping hands for the Chosen. Additionally, they served another purpose! Pack mules! As long as a Chosen guarded a particular area, his retainers could search the entire area much more quickly than one person alone. In that way they could grab and carry more treasures. Indeed, several higher level Chosen had entered deeper into the forest and left their retainers to search the outer areas for any scant treasures. They were counting on the fact that their retainers were on the same level as lower level Chosen and all the higher level Chosen would not waste their time on the treasures outside. Unfortunately, they did not count on Lineir entering the arena late...
Plink! Plink! Plink!
”You bastard! What planet are you from! My Heaven's Fist Sect will not let you off---”
”Scum! How could a Chosen such as you dare to rob the retainers in the outer forest! Wait till I inform my master----”
”Return the treasures at once and I'll tell my Empire not to destroy yours----”
Each and every retainer which Lineir robbed spouted out incredible lines such as these. However, Lineir was already long gone by the time the last word had been uttered. He had to make up lost ground, and while he was interested in seeing if there happened to be any real treasure in these retainers and weak Chosen's hands, he was only stealing from those who happened to be in his path. A very wide path...
”I can only hope it does not break. For if the Chosen of that man is killed in a mere Trial then his rage will surmount the Heavens and raise the Hells. Even if he is dead, his Echo does not fear the wrath of the Heavens. That man...no amount of influence with the Heavens would stop him from taking this one's life!” He shuddered and resumed staring at the 1001st Cup, the other 1000 Chosen Cups long forgotten.
”Please don't break!”
In the clear water of the tea cup was a projection of Lineir, shuttling through the forest at great speed. As he picked up treasure after treasure and was cursed by retainer and Chosen alike, the Head Administrator watched with bated breath. If at any moment he looked to be in real danger, the Head Administrator's own personal tea cup swirled with a mystical whirlpool ready to teleport him to Lineir's side at any moment.