Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Second Test
Chapter 193 – Second Test
In the Yellow Forest, Meadow and Omm eventually reached the Safe Zone without a single wound on their bodies.
In fact, they were completely pristine, looking as though they had simply been on a stroll. Upon arrival, however, the two came face to face with a rather intriguing scene.
Emrys Stormblessed was sitting cross-legged under the tree, and at the far left of the Safe Zone was Jeanne Safara, Heiress of the Safara Family.
The moment they stepped inside, both Emrys and Jeanne’s eyes snapped toward them.
Emrys gave a dismissive glance at Omm and focused instantly on Meadow.
Jeanne, meanwhile, didn’t even look at Meadow, her golden eyes going straight to Omm’s hazel ones.
The four looked at one another, each with their own thoughts completely veiled behind different expressions.
The first to break the heavy silence of the Safe Zone was, without surprise, Emrys Stormblessed, who spoke to Meadow with an inviting smile.
"I have always wanted to meet you and have a conversation. Even more so after your Company’s opening." He said. "And I know you know me, but allow me to introduce myself anyway. I am Emrys Stormblessed, Heir of the Stormblessed."
His voice was smooth and soft, carrying a note of undeniable power.
Looking at him, Omm was strangely reminded of Cassius. Not in character, but in the suppressing aura that naturally radiated from Emrys.
Without anyone telling him, the Shepherd knew instantly:
’He is strong. And by my standards, he is at the level of Mr. Cassius.’
And to Omm, saying someone was at the level of his benefactor, even if only in terms of strength, was placing that person at the highest level possible in this mortal world.
He sighed in his heart, realising the dreadfulness of these nobles. Now he understood why commoners would always be behind them.
Exhaling again, Omm waited for his Miss’s answer, while at the same time wondering why that woman was staring at him so intensely.
’Who is she? And why is she looking at me like this?’ He thought as Meadow answered with a polite smile.
"Of course I know you. There’s no one in the Kingdom who doesn’t at this point." Meadow smiled. "You are the fourth most beautiful man of our generation, as people say."
Those words immediately made Emrys’s lips twitch heavily.
He had been trying to forget that ridiculous list for the past two weeks, but hearing it again from Meadow was harder and more annoying than he had expected.
If it had been anyone else, he would have assumed they were mocking him.
But as he looked at Meadow’s beautiful and polite face, Emrys knew she was simply stating what she saw, with no intent behind it.
"That’s what the Net says." He finally answered. "And everyone knows not to trust the Net. Don’t you think?"
He flashed a smile, believing he was doing the most charismatic thing imaginable, and that Meadow’s heart would skip a beat.
After all, it had always been that way for every girl he had been with.
Even Love.
However, Meadow’s face didn’t waver in the slightest. She still wore her polite smile like a seasoned merchant, and nodded after a moment.
"I suppose so." She said curtly. "Well, I am quite exhausted from this test. If you don’t mind, I’ll rest before the next one. I have a feeling I’ll need it."
Then, ignoring Jeanne, Meadow turned toward Omm, who stood there in reverent silence, and tilted her head.
"Do you need me to tell you everything? Come with me." She whispered impatiently, making him smile awkwardly.
He had been completely ignored by Emrys, and Jeanne only looked at him without a word.
However, the young Shepherd still felt the need to introduce himself.
These were the first people his own age — besides Meadow and Cassius — that he had truly come into contact with.
He simply wished to be cordial.
So he bowed his head respectfully toward Emrys. "Hi, I am Omm Min Jambar. Nice to meet you." he said, but Emrys only looked at him, more concerned with the nature of Omm and Meadow’s relationship beyond work than with the greeting.
Omm didn’t mind the lack of response. He had somewhat expected it.
He then turned toward Jeanne and did the same.
"Hello, I am Omm Min Jambar. Nice to meet you."
Not expecting an answer, he looked toward Meadow and nodded, ready to leave with her.
But unexpectedly, Jeanne Safara answered.
"Nice to meet you." She said, and everyone looked at her in disbelief. "I am Jeanne Safara, Heiress of the Safara Family. May I ask you a question, Omm?"
"Huh? Yes?"
"What is your relationship with this woman?" She said, pointing dismissively at Meadow.
In a heartbeat, the tension in the Safe Zone rose to a staggering degree. Meadow narrowed her pink eyes at Jeanne, while Emrys frowned at Omm.
All the while Omm was completely confused, wondering why she would ask such a question.
At that moment, however, another person entered the Safe Zone, drawing their focus to the newcomer and dispelling some of the tension.
It was an obese young man in clothes far too tight for his body, looking ready to tear apart. Every step made the ground tremble, and his heavy breathing was like the rumbling of thunder.
The four watched the young man and instantly felt as though they would never have an appetite again for the rest of their lives.
The newcomer exhaled loudly and looked at them. He smiled, folds of flesh pressing inward.
"Finally... I’m here."
Nourou Faim had arrived.
And after him, many others reached the Safe Zone.
Not only in the Yellow Forest Zone, but also in the Rocky Mountains, where Love was the fourteenth to arrive.
The first thing she did was locate Klaus, and saw him smiling foolishly beside an achingly beautiful woman.
Love’s eyes went bloodshot, and she screamed his name with all the hatred in her heart.
"KLAUSS! I WILL KILL YOU!!"
Her scream drew Klaus’s attention, and he smiled mockingly at her pitiful state.
"What a surprise. Seems I underestimated you." He winked at her. "Next time I won’t miss, I promise."
Love almost charged straight at him to kill him on the spot. But Klaus was not alone, and she was far too exhausted.
So she chose to recover her strength by drinking a potion and wait for the perfect moment.
One thing was certain, Love would never forget this incident.
And just as Klaus was petty, Love was even pettier.
There was also one other person known to be petty. A dangerous kind of petty.
And that was Jonathan of Grace, who was in the Zone of the Frozen Sea, along with Raven, Keisha, Natalia and even William Castria.
All five of them, alongside others, were inside the Safe Zone.
Jonathan kept his cold eyes fixed on Raven, while the Prince’s eyes were closed, seemingly in deep meditation.
The tension was abnormally high, and Keisha was sweating nervously, sensing what felt like an approaching battle.
In the black dune, Cassius and Anesthesia had taken the artifacts of everyone who found the Safe Zone.
Everyone but three people: Jurkil Julaibib and his good friend Diaila, and another woman named Layla Bint Aicha.
They were spared the robbery because Cassius decided so, having known the three of them in the Game.
That knowledge told him it was foolish to make Jurkil an enemy if it wasn’t necessary. He had an annoying power and an unpredictable personality.
However, Cassius liked the man. He was honest, in his own way.
Diaila, for her part, was untouchable because she was under Julaibib’s protection. That was something people would test inside the Academy, but all of them would regret touching anyone Julaibib had said he would protect.
Unless one was far stronger than him, Julaibib was better left alone.
The last was a woman. And that woman was right in front of Cassius, looking at him with unblinking eyes.
’Queen... what is wrong with her!’ Cassius grumbled, looking at the tall, muscular woman with two large axes strapped to her back.
She wore clothes that covered only her private parts and her breasts, leaving everything else bare to the world.
Her skin was deep black, yet parts of it were white, forming strange yet beautiful patterns.
She had vitiligo.
Her hair was brown and braided into a single thick knot.
Layla had been staring at Cassius since she arrived, making the Last Born deeply uncomfortable.
His limit was slowly being reached. However, he didn’t get the chance to say anything before the hour ended, marking the conclusion of the First Test.
All the participants inside the Safe Zones across all four zones immediately focused as the presenter’s voice echoed once more.
<Time’s up. The First Test has officially ended, and each Safe Zone holds at most fifteen participants.>
<Those who failed to find a Safe Zone are disqualified immediately.>
A short pause, then...
<Perfect. Now, without any more useless discussion, let us immediately begin the Second Test, where only the truly outstanding and interesting ones will remain.>
Everyone held their breath. Even Cassius, for he didn’t know what the test was, nor how Océane’s situation would affect him.
<The Second Test is simple.> the voice continued. <Each Safe Zone holds at most fifteen people. But we do not need that many. The Academy’s resources must be spent on the worthy alone. And so, we only need six participants from each Safe Zone for the final ranking.>
The voice laughed wickedly.
<So, ladies and gentlemen, you know what to do. You can either win and be among the Six, or you can forfeit now if you lack confidence. Which is wiser, because overconfidence will get you killed. But that is your choice. The only thing we will tell you is this...>
Cassius looked around and saw everyone eyeing each other, their essence rippling.
<...you have three minutes. And if, after three minutes, there are more than six remaining, everyone fails.>
—End of Chapter 193—
