Kapitel 26: Last Pact Standing

All new things added were shown and how much Julien had leveled up was also there.

It felt unbelievable, but the facts were right there, in front of his eyes.

He had jumped ten levels, gained a new title, many rewards, and even had a new tab called achievements with two achievements already listed under it.

In two sections, he had gained enough experience points to jump ten levels and also had something called a Rank tab in his general stats area.

"Do you wish to trade, Player?"

Julien snapped out of his stupor at the merchant's question, tearing his gaze away from the system panel.

The Teamwork Section had already begun, and time was slipping away. He couldn't afford to linger here, lost in thought over his stats—doing so would invite disaster.

Two days had already passed in the trial. Most players had likely formed their teams by now, and joining one would be a challenge. Any further delay would only make the situation more dire.

Turning to the merchant, Julien said, "Yes. Show me the items available for trade."

"Hohoho! Here you go!"

-Elixir of Accelerated Learning: Doubles Experience and Intelligence points gained for the next 24 hours.

-Ring of the Whispering Winds: Increases movement speed by 20% and grants a 10% chance to evade attacks.

-Scroll of Mass Teleportation: Teleports the user and up to five allies to a location of choice within the trial area.

-Strengthening Spell Enchanted Gauntlet: Increases physical strength and fortitude by 30%, making the user resistant to physical damage.

-Tome of Forgotten Spells: Contains five random Uncommon spells that can be learned once read.

-Bag of Infinite Holding: A small bag that can store an unlimited number of items without increasing in weight.

-Potion of True Sight: Grants the ability to see through all illusions and lies for 1 hour. Can be used once per day.

"Oh? The bag seems useful." Julien's gaze was fixated on the Bag of Infinite Holding.

"Hoho, you can have it for the Memo of Valthor!" The merchant curled his mustache.

"Huh?" Julien looked at him with a dumbfounded gaze. "Why do you know which items I possess?"

"That's a trade secret, Player. Hohoho!"

Julien knitted his brows. Talking to this man was quite annoying.

"I refuse. I'll trade it for the Veil of Eternal Darkness."

The merchant shook his head and said, "The value of the bag can only be matched by the Memo."

The merchant was an NPC that was given commands by the Tower. It was probably the reason why he knew of the items in possession and was trying hard to get the memo.

It was clear by now that the Tower greatly valued the memo. This was even more so of a reason to avoid trading it off.

The Bag of Infinite Holdings was a good item, but may not be as precious because one could easily lose it.

What if there was a trial where the Player had to get naked and move around? In such a scenario, the bag could not be taken together, so that was another limitation.

"I'm not trading the Memo of Valthor. What are the items that can be traded with my rewards?"

"Everything from the list, except the bag, hoho!"

"Okay. Then I'll have the…"

Five minutes passed.

[Ding!]

[Traded — Wraithbone Amulet, Soul Shard!]

[Obtained — Scroll of Mass Teleportation, Potion of True Sight!]

"Pleasure doing business, hohohoho!" Malnourished Santa Claus laughed heartily and disappeared.

The reality around Julien began to crumble, pixels falling away like fragments from a broken screen as the trade concluded.

A bright sky replaced the room's dark ceiling, and the scent of freshly poured rain on soil filled his nostrils.

He now stood on a grassy field, encircled by towering trees and lush greenery, his gaze resting on the tranquil puddle of water before him.

[Welcome Player to the Teamwork Section!]

[Last Pact Standing — 02:18:21_56]

[Time limit to form a pact: 5 hours.]

[Failure to join or create a team within the allotted time will result in immediate disqualification.]

"Fuuuuu…" Julien let out a sharp breath and stretched. "Let's see how well I fare off against others."

Taking out his Enchanted Compass, Julien oriented himself to the north and began walking in that direction. There was no specific reason for choosing north; it was simply better to move deliberately than wander aimlessly.

Map wasn't available so he had to leave markings to know where he was going. The first thing he planned to do was acquiring food, water and finding shelter.

As Julien ventured deeper into the dense jungle, the foliage grew thicker, and the air became heavy with humidity.

The cacophony of the jungle surrounded him: the chirping of insects, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional distant call of a bird. He marked each tree with small, deliberate cuts and snapped twigs to keep his bearings.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed through the jungle, shaking the ground beneath his feet.

Julien froze, his heart racing as the sound reverberated through the trees, followed by a shockwave that rattled the branches above. Dust and debris rained down, and the once-familiar sounds of the jungle were replaced by an eerie silence.

He scanned the horizon, trying to locate the source of the explosion with senses on high alert.

The jungle seemed to close in around him, the shadows growing darker as the day shifted.

Julien knew he couldn't stay in one place for too long; whatever had caused the explosion could mean danger.

It's best if I don't go in that direction. Julien thought.

However, a split second later, he stopped in his tracks and knitted his brows.

Tsk. I forgot that I have to find teammates. Time's running out and I am in urgent need of someone.

Julien turned toward the source of the explosion once more, sighed, and then began walking in that direction.

He drew his Ghoulbane Sword and swung it around, getting a feel for its weight and balance.

The sword was longer than the Demonic Sword, with a murky sheen to the blade. It was sharp on both sides and had a pointed end, ideal for thrusting. The handle was wrapped in gray leather-like material with red threads woven through it.

Light and easy to handle, the sword brought Julien a sense of relief.

As he continued, he noticed the grass was flattened in a long trail and uprooted in places, as if someone had been dragged through it.

Julien's senses were on high alert as he took cover against the trees, moving cautiously.

Soon, faint sounds of metal clanging made his ears perk up.

He moved toward the noise and, just a few steps ahead...

*Crunch!*

Beep.

Julien stepped on something, and a clicking sound echoed around him.

Danger alarms blared in his mind as his pupils constricted, the sensation of impending doom overwhelming him.

Beep.

Beep-beep-beep-beep!

Beep-beep-beepbeepbeepbeepbibibibi—