Into the Forest

As soon as everyone was teleported from the waiting ground, they found themselves scattered across a vast forest. The forest was unlike anything many had seen before. Towering trees stretched endlessly into the sky, their massive trunks covered in moss and twisted roots snaking across the damp ground. The roots pulsed faintly, glowing as they absorbed energy from the soil, with streams of light traveling upward through the tree trunks. The air was heavy with humidity, and beams of pale sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting eerie shadows. The sound of distant growls, chirping insects, and rustling leaves filled the air, heightening the sense of isolation.

Everyone was teleported to a different part of the forest, ensuring no immediate alliances or rivalries could form. The forest seemed alive, its oppressive aura a constant reminder that survival was not guaranteed.

Roy appeared near a massive tree, its roots forming natural arches around him. He was still bleeding from his nose, the strain of the previous tests evident in his trembling limbs. "Okay, first thing's first," he muttered, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "I need to heal. Only then can I start the hunt."

His body ached with every movement, but he forced himself to search for a suitable hiding spot. He moved carefully through the forest, scanning for caves or concealed clearings, but his effort was in vain. Each step seemed to sap more of his dwindling strength.

Finally, Roy decided on the next best option. "The trees here are tall enough," he thought. He covered himself in mud to mask his scent and, with considerable effort, leapt onto a thick branch high above the ground. It wasn't perfect camouflage, but it would have to do.

Settling onto the branch, Roy closed his eyes and began channeling his aura. His body's aura had increased significantly, nearly fivefold after the second test. The strands of aura moved and wrapped around his injured body, accelerating his healing. "This will have to be enough for now," he thought, focusing intently on recovery.

On the other side of the forest, Kevin landed on the forest floor with a soft thud, his feet steadying him instinctively. He barely had time to assess his surroundings when a sudden noise caught his attention. Something shot at him from the right. Kevin dodged instinctively, rolling to his left as the projectile embedded itself in a tree trunk, leaving a noticeable crack.

Springing to his feet, Kevin drew both of his swords, his senses heightened. The familiar growls of beasts filled his ears as he quickly realized he was surrounded. Shadow Wolves—six of them—emerged from the shadows, their silver eyes glowing ominously. These were no ordinary wolves; they were second-rank beasts, their speed and strength equivalent to muscle forging cultivators. Silver-ranked monsters worth 100 points each, they were a formidable challenge even for Kevin.

The pack didn't wait long. The first wolf lunged with terrifying speed, its claws swiping at Kevin. He sidestepped, his blade flashing as he slashed across its chest. The wolf howled in pain but wasn't taken down. Another wolf attacked from behind, forcing Kevin to twist and deflect with his second sword. The clash sent vibrations up his arms, the sheer strength of the beast almost overwhelming.

Kevin darted between the trees, using the terrain to his advantage. A wolf lunged from his left, and Kevin swung horizontally, his sword cutting cleanly through the beast's torso. Blood sprayed as the wolf collapsed, but there was no time to celebrate. Another wolf leapt from above, its claws aimed for his head.

Kevin ducked, the beast's momentum carrying it past him. He spun, his sword slicing through its hind leg. The wolf landed awkwardly, howling as it limped away. The remaining four wolves coordinated their attack, their growls harmonizing as they circled him.

The leader of the pack—a massive, scarred wolf—let out a deep, guttural growl, commanding the remaining wolves. They lunged together, forcing Kevin to dive forward into a roll. As he came up, one wolf was already upon him, its fangs snapping at his arm. Kevin swung both swords in an upward arc, cleaving the wolf's head clean off in a spray of blood.

Another wolf attacked from his flank, and Kevin parried its strike, the sheer force of the collision cracking the tree beside them. Kevin pivoted, slashing down into the wolf's back and sending it crashing to the ground. The final wolf hesitated for a moment, then charged with reckless abandon. Kevin sidestepped and delivered a clean horizontal slash, the beast's momentum carrying it into the path of his blade.

The scarred leader stood still, its glowing eyes locking onto Kevin with predatory intelligence. This wolf was different. Kevin could sense the shadow energy radiating off its body, a tangible aura that pressed against his own. The leader crouched low, then lunged with terrifying speed, faster than any of the others. Kevin barely raised his swords in time, the impact sending a shockwave that cracked the ground beneath him.

The force threw Kevin backward, his boots skidding across the dirt as he fought to maintain balance. The wolf didn't relent, pouncing again with claws extended. Kevin rolled under its swipe, but the beast's claws tore through a nearby tree, splitting it cleanly in half. "This one's on another level," Kevin thought, beads of sweat rolling down his face.

Kevin countered with a series of precise slashes, aiming for the wolf's legs to slow it down. The beast dodged with fluid, almost unnatural agility, circling him in a blur. Kevin twisted just in time to parry a strike aimed at his torso, the clash sending sparks flying.

The wolf retaliated with a burst of dark energy, its claws glowing faintly and hiding his presence even more. Kevin crossed his swords, blocking the attack, but the force pushed him back, his feet digging grooves into the earth. He growled, channeling his aura to enhance his speed, and darted forward, his blades a whirlwind of strikes.

The wolf leapt back, but Kevin managed to land a deep slash across its flank. It howled in pain, its aura flaring violently as the ground trembled beneath them. Kevin knew he had to end it quickly. He steadied himself, focusing all his remaining energy into his next move.

The wolf charged, its jaws snapping with lethal intent. Kevin met it head-on, their clash creating a shockwave that sent debris flying in all directions. Their energies collided, the sheer force shaking the surrounding trees. Kevin twisted his blades, breaking the deadlock, and delivered a cross-slash. The blades cut deep into the wolf's chest, dark energy exploding outward as the beast let out a final, mournful howl.

The leader collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Kevin stood over it, his chest heaving, blood dripping from both his wounds and his blades. The surrounding area was a battlefield of cracked earth and shattered trees, a testament to the ferocity of the fight.

Exhausted, Kevin staggered back and leaned against a tree, his swords still in hand. "That was too close. Next time its better to use my real power." he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. The forest seemed eerily quiet now, as if acknowledging his victory. Kevin closed his eyes briefly, his mind already strategizing for the battles yet to come.

The wolves were not particularly problematic, but their numbers and Kevin's precarious landing position made the fight significantly harder. Kevin had a few signature sword techniques but chose not to use them, relying instead on simple slashes to challenge his instincts and senses further.

Using his aura, Kevin quickly healed the minor cuts and bruises on his body. Just as he steadied himself, the slow sound of clapping echoed through the forest.

"Clap, clap, clap. Considering you're blindfolded, you fought well," a voice called out, dripping with mockery. Kevin's head turned sharply toward the sound. Three figures stepped out from the shadows, led by a young man dressed in ornate robes that screamed of wealth and arrogance. His smirk radiated malice.

Kevin tightened his grip on his swords, his focus locked on the group. "What do you want?" he asked, though he already suspected the answer.

The leader sneered. "What else? I want the tokens from those dead wolves. Hand them over, and I'll let you live."

Anger flared in Kevin's chest. "If you take one more step, I'll kill you," he warned, his voice icy.

The three men laughed, their mockery grating against Kevin's ears. "Oh, we're so scared," the leader jeered, his companions joining in.

"Kill him and take the tokens," the leader ordered with a dismissive wave of his hand. The two men flanking him stepped forward. One wielded a spear, the other a saber. The leader himself rested a hand on the hilt of a finely crafted sword, watching with smug confidence.

The spear wielder advanced first, leveling his weapon at Kevin. He opened his mouth to taunt but was cut short. Kevin moved in an instant, a blur of speed that left the attackers stunned.

In a flash, Kevin closed the distance, his left sword cutting down in a clean arc. The spear shattered, and the man's hand was severed in the same motion. Kevin spun, his momentum carrying him into a crouched position as his left sword swept low, slicing through both legs of the saber-wielder before he could react. Blood sprayed as the second man collapsed with a scream.

Continuing his motion, Kevin turned again, staying low as he prepared his next strike. He straightened, both swords aimed at the leader's chest, ready to deliver a fatal cross-slash. Just as the blades were about to connect, a sharp metallic clang rang out.

Kevin's eyes widened in surprise. Standing between him and the leader was a man—older, with an air of authority that made it clear he wasn't a contestant. The stranger had blocked Kevin's attack with a single-finger covered in aura, his stance calm and unyielding.

Kevin jumped back instinctively, his mind racing. The leader, meanwhile, stumbled backward, his face pale with fear. He hadn't seen anything after Kevin moved, his speed too fast to follow.

The older man removed the aura from his finger and turned to Kevin. "That's enough. There's no need to kill him," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Kevin's anger flared. "Oh, so he can try to kill me while I'm injured, but I can't retaliate?" he demanded.

"I would have stopped him as well," the man replied evenly, unfazed by Kevin's tone.

Understanding dawned on Kevin. This was an instructor of the Heavenly Star Sect. His frustration simmered, but he sheathed his swords. "I didn't know the sect allows people who attack future allies into its ranks," Kevin said coldly.

The instructor's eyes narrowed. "It doesn't. You have nothing to worry about and I don't owe you an explanation," he replied before the leader interrupted him.

"Why are you interfering? I want those tokens!" the young man whined, his arrogance undiminished.

The instructor's patience snapped. Without a word, he slapped the leader so hard that teeth flew from his mouth. "Shut up," he growled. He turned back to Kevin briefly. "Continue."

With that, the instructor vanished, taking the three men and their severed limbs with him. The forest fell silent once more.

Kevin exhaled slowly, his grip relaxing. He took a few moments to stabilize his breathing before kneeling to extract the tokens from the wolves. "Better get this over with," he muttered, his voice steady despite the chaos he had just faced.