The Skills Test Pt.2

From outside the glass wall, people were standing a distance away from where Clove and Rebecca stood. All of the guards within the wall could be seen watching the interaction, some were fidgeting just in case something happened.

Bernie stood next to another young man as they waited patiently.

"So do you think anything interesting is going happen up there?"

The young man asked.

"I reckon that fella has something to show us." He said before wrenching an arm in the air and gripping his bicep with other. "He strangled a bloody Timber with his bare hands, just moments after he arrived!"

Bernie said, emphasizing how impressed he was.

"Seriously?... wait... why was a Timber Wolf even near there?"

The Young Man asked, beginning to suspect something was up. He could see Bernie beginning to shy away as he scratched the back of his head. "Bernie? What did yo-"

"Alright, alright! I was absolutely bored out of my mind!" Bernie had a tough time keeping secrets, he was embarrassed as he threw his arms down in defeat. "I just wanted to see if I could hide from the Timber is all. Then that bugger over there popped out of nowhere!! Gave me a right scare... but the Timber found him before me... and i just wanted to see what kind of man he was.... Honest, Jack.... I wouldn't have let him get hurt or nothin'."

Jack looked away from Bernie as he looked back towards the stage.

"Well. What system does he have? Hunter? Brawler?..."

Jack fixed his collar as he asked this. His clothes were nicer than most around him. Specifically, Jack was clean.

Bernie shook his head.

"I've no idea. Kid wouldn't tell me, but the air is definitely odd around him."

Jack turned to Bernie.

"Did he show any abilities?"

Bernie shook his head once more.

"Nothing. Except, the Sprites seemed to love him. I mean, he had a tough time shaking them off."

Bernie said letting out a laugh as he patted Jack's shoulder, leaving a slight handprint on the fabric.

Jack brushed his shoulder, looking back towards the stage.

"Interesting."

--------------------

On the stage, Clove was suddenly given a system message as Rebecca began to speak.

'What the hell is this? Is someone attacking me?'

He looked passed the screen at everyone on stage. They were all looking at him.

'Who could it be? What ability are they using?'

[SKILL successfully REJECTED]

Before he could try to get information from the system, someone spoke to him.

"Young man, what is your name?"

Clove looked up to see the man in the center speaking to him.

"Clove Thompson."

He said, accidentally putting some venom behind his words.

Rebecca snapped her head to Clove, and he never broke sight of the man before him.

"Clove. What an odd name... well, 'Clove', my name is Robert. I am interested to know how you blocked my skill."

Robert said.

"Do you often attack people when you greet them?"

Clove asked. He was beginning to feel on guard. He realized how boxed in he was, and it was making him uneasy.

Robert let out a chuckle.

"Attack you? My dear boy, I was evaluating you... I have the Appraisal System. One of my many talents is to know everything I use my Inspect Skill on, and it hasn't failed me yet. Who are you?"

As he asked this, he made some advances towards Clove.

"You are our first Arrival in some time. I'll have to admit, I was fairly excited to see what you would be capable of. The last New Arrival was quite strong, so we naturally assumed you wouldn't disappoint. And thus far, I am not disappointed. So, tell me. What is your System?"

Robert asked as he stopped his movements just four feet away from Clove.

Clove didn't need to read the system's onslaught of messages to know what they said.

"I can't tell you. I'm not sure what would happen if I did, and I don't wanna find out. Can we not just move along to the Skills Test? Respectfully."

He could see his situation now. He was only a level 2, and judging how he leveled up by slaying a single beast, he could only assume that all of these people were far stronger than him. They've been here longer, of course.

Robert stared at Clove a moment before breaking the silence.

"Very well. I will dub you with an Unknown Exiled System!"

Rebecca looked slowly towards Clove, wishing she had warned him, or even had given him more information.

"I was told that you killed a Timber Wolf, upon arrival. With that, and blocking my skill, I think it is just that I deemed your system to be exiled."

Robert said, now making sure he spoke loud enough so that the others on stage could hear him clearly.

"Now then, I think we will all be interested to see just exactly how capable you really are..." Robert then looked to Rebecca. "Prepare the course, and get Mr. Thompson into position."

Rebecca nodded at the request, and suddenly Clove was thrusted off stage.

Back behind the glass, Bernie saw Clove's body flying mid-air. He nudged Jack in rapid succession, blurting out in excitement.

"Alright! Something is definitely happening now."

Jack wiped the dirt from his clothes once again, as they watched in anticipation.

'Let's see what you've got, kid.'

Jack thought to himself.

Once Clove stopped tumbling against the hard dirt, he slowly lifted himself off the ground. His head was buzzing as he brushed the dust off of him, seeing Rebecca standing at the foot of the stage. He could assume that she threw him.

'Open HP'

[HP - 10/10]

'I would've definitely broken something before.'

He thought as he checked himself once over.

"The skills test will now begin!"

Robert had shouted this, somehow his voice seemed to extend beyond the walls, as Clove noticed people stir from the announcement.

Then three trap doors had opened from beneath the soil, on the other side of this arena. Clove's eyes had attempted to squint the details of whatever was coming to greet him, just as a message appeared.

[THREAT DETECTED! You're being HUNTED]

[New Quest: SKILLS TEST! Defeat all THREE TARGETS to replenish your BloodLust!]

[Additional Quest rewards available if completed within the time limit]

Clove was distracted by the sudden screen in his face, whatever was concealed by the trap doors had already sprung loose. He then scanned the area, unable to see anything out of the ordinary. Until a large mass had blocked out the sun as it had flew at him. Clove had dodged the Timber Wolf just in time, spinning on his heel, only to fall flat on his back.

He then noticed another screen in view. It was another timer, similar to his Daily Quest. This one was counting down from ten minutes.

'Alright. Ten minutes. I can do that.'

As he adjusted to get up before the wolf could make another attack, he felt a jaw close around his arm. Letting out a scream, he used all of his strength behind a single punch to the side of the animal's head. The wolf let go briefly while it 'yelped'.

'Yeah, I think I've got this.'

His confidence was growing now, thanks to the successful blow.

A screen popped in view.

[HP - 9/10]

He then took the opportunity to unleash a volley of blows to the wolf's skull causing it to retreat for the moment as it fumbled away.

A shadow then caught his attention out of the corner of his eye, he adjusted is footing, prepared for the attack now. As the wolf circled into view, Clove had been shoved forward by the third wolf, and he was now splattered with blood.

Luckily, he had already been timing the attack from the wolf that was charging him head on. When the third wolf had launched Clove forward, it added more force to the attack he was attempting.

[Daily Quest]

[Targets Killed - 1/1]

[SKILLS TEST]

[Targets Killed - 1/3]

Clove wasn't as excited as he should've been. He still struggled to take a life, even one of an animal attempting to take his. Snapping back to the fight at hand, he lost sight of the two remaining wolves. However, he could see a faint trail of blood leading away from his immediate area.

'Well, I can't think of a better time for this...'

'Activate Hunt!'

[HUNT ACTIVATED]

Clove's vision had changed. Causing him to reel away for a moment, kneeling down. Seeing... more. His vision had a slight red hue to it, the blood on the ground almost appeared to illuminate. Not only this, but it was as if he could see the movements of his target in the air, they looked like faint smoke trails leading off somewhere within the obstacle course.

'Cool.'

Clove smiled.

Standing up, he caught a sharp scent. He could smell wet dog coming from the smoke trails hanging in the air.

Looking around the area, he could tell exactly where the wolf is, but was unsure of the second one. Slowly strafing around the course, remaining low and softening his footsteps, he now noticed a new scent, a familiar one. A different vapor was hanging in the air now. Realizing this was his own scent, he could actively see where it was traveling... away from the course. Removing his tunic, he threw it to the opposite direction that he was moving in, attempting to confuse the beasts.

Now breaking off into a sprint, Clove had lept behind a pillar that was cast in shadow. He clenched his hands around the animal's neck and muzzle, fiercly torquing his arms in oppsite directions, snapping it's neck. Without a break, his hairs raised when he noticed a presence at his flank.

"Oh, I haven't forgotten about you."

Clove said as he turned his head slightly towards the wolf he was tracking.

[Your BLOODLUST is running low! Satiate your thirst!]

The message distracted Clove once again, pain could be felt from the side of his torso.

[Critical Damage Taken]

[HP - 4/10]

Still attatched to Clove, the wolf gripped tighter whenever Clove had moved. The wound on its head, still actively losing blood, was now irritated by the action. The wolf let go, backing away in sloppy steps as it shielded the side of it's head.

Straightening up, he gently caressed the bite on his ribs. Clove noticed a sword leaning against the pillar, it glinted the sun like a beacon of hope.

Ignoring the wound, he jumped forward at the sword. He swung it around in an arch as he brought it down on the wolf's head. Missing it's neck, the blade had cleaved off the front half of the wolf's snout. Shocked, Clove stood there frozen in shame and fear as he watched the wolf writhe in pain.

[Quest time remaining: 2:45.32]

Squeezing his eyes shut tightly, he opened them again to allow the tears to escape down his face. He lined up the sword against the wolf's neck, to bring it's suffering to an end.

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