A low hum could be heard vibrating through the mana-crystal platform as the countdown continued. Each step gives Soji a subtle jolt in his feet as he trailed just a few paces behind the trio of martial goddesses, trying not to look too out of place—or trip over his own feet. The air around them shimmered faintly with residual power. Their movements were fluid and certain, while Soji's own steps felt heavy with doubt.
As he glanced up, the system projected up, checking the countdown, and he noticed that it had passed for fourteen minutes already.
[ COMMENCING THE 4TH TRIAL]
[ TRIAL 4: ESSENCE HUNTING ]
[ PLEASE FIND A TEAMMATE OR GO SOLO ]
[ OBJECTIVE: ACQUIRE 100 ESSENCES NEEDED FOR COMPLETION ]
[ Essences can be acquired by slaying monsters and participants. Essences can be given. ]
[ WARNING FAILING TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FAILURE ]
[ COMMENCING TRIAL IN: 16 MINS ]
The group moved along as few people gave them attention, and more came to them asking to join but were each rejected by the trio. However, the participants started to notice the trio of martial goddesses. Whispers followed in their wake, awed and envious. And then came the bold ones.
A heavily armored knight stepped forward with huge confidence, blocking their path briefly.
"Excuse me, I am Regaules Libaz of the Silver Vow. I humbly request to join your party for the trial." The ironclad raises his hand slightly offering a hand.
"No," the silver-haired goddess said without slowing down.
Before Regaules could react, a beastkin girl with a sleek tail and with a sharp feature, her feline eyes darted in from the side. "I can scout and track monsters. Let me join you."
"No!" the redhead grunted angrily, brushing them past, clearly irritated.
Then more challengers came. From spellcasters to swordsmen, and even a towering brute carrying a war club. Of course all are turned down by their request to join, by the trio.
But the real problem started when someone pointed a finger directly at Soji. Mocking him for being weak.
"Why him?" a spear wielder angrily spoke, his eyes burning with disbelief.
"He's weak! I saw his stats. He only got all ones! And a single skill? My observation skill tells me so." He muttered angrily as he demanded answers from the trio.
'I can't believe a lot of people have observation skills just like that... Look how easily fooled they are...' Soji thought in his mind, a mix of mischievousness brewing inside him.
"That's right!" another warrior in shining golden armor shouted angrily.
"What kind of joke is this? You turned me down and took a deadweight instead?!"
Dozens of eyes locked on Soji. The crowd was heating up, not yet violent but close.
Then suddenly the white-haired girl shouted with a razor sharp clarity.
"STOP!" Her voice was piercing as it started to echo from the huge crystal platform.
And many are starting to stare in the trio's direction. From the robed mages drifting above to the grounded Murim cultivators and knightly factions nearby, all eyes converged on them.
She spoke again, her voice clear, cold, and unshaken. "We don't care! He was chosen by our companion, and that's all there is to it. We owe none of you an explanation!"
The whole place was suddenly in silence after the huge statement. A quiet murmur spread through the crowd. Not everyone liked the answer, but none dared provoke the trio further. Their power was palpable. Then suddenly two prominent figures appeared with a wave of killing intent.
It washed over the crowd like a crashing tide. An invisible pressure pressed down on the challengers, forcing many to instinctively quiet themselves and glance around for the source. A few cultivators even took a defensive stance, sensing the arrival of someone dangerous.
From one of the light-bridged platforms nearby, a tall young man with flowing white robes and obsidian-black armor beneath stepped forward. His long silver hair was tied in a low tail, and at his waist hung a blade that looked demonic, emitting a faint dark red aura—as if thirsting for blood. His presence alone made some participants flinch.
His crimson eyes glared toward the trio and then at Soji. Not with anger. Not with disgust. But something else entirely. As if assessing a prey... or perhaps a puzzle.
And to his right was a massive, muscular guy, like a seasoned monk, yet he walked with the eerie grace of someone who knew how to kill without effort. His dark crimson robes hung loose, embroidered with ancient. He looked strong, and everyone felt his presence with the demonic sword user.
His face was mostly obscured by the broad straw hat he wear, hiding all but a faint grin and the glint of his eyes.
The murmurs started again like a wildfire, especially among the Murim groups.
The seasoned monk raised a hand lazily. "Mmm... What's this gathering? Are we fighting before the hunt even started?" His voice was smooth, deep, and playful.
The white-haired murim guy spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Nari... You've chosen... oddly." He glanced at Soji again.
Soji got startled, not wanting to make any move...
"Do you believe that weakling can survive what's coming?" He said calmly as he glanced at Soji.
"It's not your responsibility to take care of Zennia... He is my responsibility..." Nari replied sharply, her tone more commanding.
Zennia stared at her for a long silent moment before his eyes shifted to the white-haired Murim woman standing besides Nari. Then he gave a nod. The seasoned monk followed while smiling as he looked at the crowd.
As the attention from them started to slowly fade, Soji tried to break the silence by speaking to the trio.
"So hey... I promise I won't be a deadwe—" when a loud voice from the red-haired girl cut him off.
"SILENCE! We don't want your worthless rambling!" She shouted at him, her crimson eyes blazing with irritation.
Nari then butted in, trying to defend Soji "Hey! Can you please not take your temper out on him..."
Soji shut his mouth, jaw tight. He said nothing else. Not because he agreed, but because deep down, he understood he wasn't trusted yet.
The redhead scoffed and turned away, muttering something under her breath, clearly not in the mood to argue but also not ready to apologize.
Nari then turned towards Soji, her expression softening as she met his gaze. The tension around them began to fade.
"I'm sorry Soji... for all that commotion," she said quietly, her voice sincere.
Soji looked at her as he cracked a faint smile and shrugged. "No big deal. I'm used to it, actually... And just don't worry about me. It will be fine."
Nari smiled back, the corner of her lips curving with a hint of relief.
They then proceeded to walk together just a few paces behind her companions as she walked side by side with Soji, having a conversation. Suddenly a familiar chime echoed from above, the system had announced once again.
[ COMMENCING TRIAL 4: ESSENCE HUNTING ]
[ PLEASE BE ON STANDBY...]
[ TELEPORTATION IN PROGRESS ]
As the system announces itself, a sudden light can be seen from below the feet of every participant.
Soji instinctively took a step back, eyes wide as he watched the entire platform begin to shimmer. The once-stable ground was humming with an intense vibration as the light coated the whole platform, almost seemingly blinding everyone. The light intensified as it reached the sky, covering everyone. The energy shifts...
And... Everyone vanishes... Silence can be heard through the whole platform... All the participants are gone...
.....
.....
.....
Soji stumbles from the sudden teleportation. His knees hit the ground hard, the earthy scent of moss and damp soil rushing up to greet him as he feels like throwing up. The glowing mist that covered the forest floor swirled around him, and the cold breeze of the wind brushed past him.
Suddenly the system pinged him.
[ PARTY REJECTED ]
[ You have been forcefully teleported randomly ]
[ Majority of the players have rejected you from their party... ]
[ The decision was carried automatically by the System ]
[ VOTINGS: 2 out of 1 ]
[ YOU WILL HAVE TO GO SOLO... ]
[ GOOD LUCK! ]
[ TIME LEFT: 23 Hours 59 Minutes ]
Soji looked around, looking for the trio... But nothing...
"Those two fuckers... Fuck... Welp..." Soji clenched his fists and cursed the two murim girls that rejected him, separating him from Nari.
"Alright, I guess I'm going solo." He muttered as his eyes scanned the huge vast forest.
Soji stood up, accepting the fact, and started walking... Just before he could take another step, he felt the killing intent of a monster. As Soji turned around, he saw a creature already looking at him, growling... As if looking at Soji like prey.
Its size was like a small truck, a monstrous, lion like creature—unlike any beast he had ever imagined. It was massive, its shoulders rising well above his height, like a living fortress of muscle and power.
Its fur was pure white, almost silver under the ambient light. Each movement of its massive frame sent a terrific aura to Soji, and its paws crushed the soil with terrifying ease. Its violet eyes shining as it looks at Soji like a prey ready to be hunted...
But what truly set it apart… was the tail. A long, whip-like tail ending in a cluster of jagged bone blades that looked like obsidian, twitching violently as if eager to taste blood. Its teeth, claws, and tail are all made of obsidian...
The system then appeared again with a warning.
[ BOSS MONSTER DETECTED ]
[ MONSTER NAME: Moon Lion ]
[ MONSTER TIER: A+ ]
[ THREAT LEVEL: VERY HIGH ]
[ ESSENCE VALUE: 350 ]
"What the fuck! Why a boss monster now?! This is a fucking overkill!" Soji exclaimed as he felt his heart beating and his legs shaking from the immense fear he was feeling.
"This is fucking nuts! How am I supposed to do my ESSENCE HUNTING!"