"But Grandpa, these lowly humans are just too audacious!" The red hair cried out, his fist itching to blast another 'lowly' human's head
"Fifteen, stop being unruly. Back down now!" Another one of the kidnappers said, her tone sounding threatening
She was wearing yellow heavy armor on her whole body which made her look bulkier than she is
This woman clearly has some status among these kidnappers and 'Fifteen' has no choice but to move away from the 'lowly humans' that didn't even dare breathe loudly in fear that it would be their heads that would be smashed to pieces next
The old man, Zero steps out. His hands placed behind him again
"Humans, we did not bring you here to hurt you..." he started and Rezen complained in his head
'Not to hurt us but your people already killed one of us'
"And Fifteen is right, this is a great opportunity for every one of you. If you pass our test, you will receive the most important inheritance in the Blessed Land" he continued and humans once again showed their great ability to adapt
Hearing the words 'opportunity' and 'inheritance', everyone's interest was piqued
Not all humans can walk the path of mages but if they were to obtain the inheritance then there might be a chance
Who wouldn't want to be an exalted mage with high status in society?
"B-Blessed Land? Y-you mean the Lands of mages at level 7 and above?!" One of the captives exclaimed and Rezen's ears perked up
This blessed land actually have such a background?
"To you humans of the current era, the mainstream path is the path of mages using mystic gems and magic circles. But in our time, that is just one of the available paths. We are not mages but Tattoo Warriors" Zero clarified and Rezen can feel his worldview expanding
There was actually such a thing? No wonder the old man didn't use a mystic gem and magic circle when using magic!
"T-then... w-will we be able to inherit the blessed land if we pass the test?" The same person from earlier asks and the red hair's anger flared again
"Inherit the blessed land? Maggots, you are dreaming! How dare you covet our master's blessed land?! Do you want to die?!"
The human instantly shrunk in fear
"No, you will not receive the blessed land, it would desecrate our master's legacy. And even if you do obtain it, I guarantee that it would be useless. But even if you can't receive the blessed land, you still have the chance to receive a special inheritance" Zero explained and the fear of the humans diminishes until...
"Only one of you can receive the inheritance, there is also a high chance that no one will. And only those who pass the test would leave this place alive!"
Silence... a long reign of silence appeared but before anyone can react, they were already pushed into various points of the forest while the kidnappers explained some things
They have to reach the center of the forest and the dangers that everyone would encounter are not something that they couldn't overcome
Of course, the chances of death are high but there would always be a slim chance that they could survive!
But if two or more people arrived at the center of the forest, they would have to engage in a death match
Only one person could survive!
However, even if one of them entered the central area and killed all the other humans, it doesn't mean that they pass
The discretion would be up to their kidnappers!
——-
Rezen was placed on one point of the forest. He raised his head and saw that the branches and leaves of these towering trees blocked the view of the skies
He thought that he could climb on one of the trees to check his location and where the central area is but he changes his mind
If he climb these trees and fell... just thinking about it made him shudder
"What shit luck is this! I just wanted to relax and take a break! Are the gods angered that I was scamming those sisters?" Rezen complained bitterly but since the warning of his captives doesn't sound like a lie, he can only start to choose a random direction to traverse
"Hmm... when I encounter a fellow human should I go for the kill?" Rezen wondered
Only one person can survive even if all of them reached the central area. If they all entered the central area then they would still have to fight and kill each other
Wouldn't it be better to lessen the risks beforehand?
While Rezen was thinking, his foot suddenly stepped on something
When he looked down, he saw that there was something on the ground. It looks and feels the same as the tattoos of those Tattoo Warrior
It was a mix of intertwining lines that at first looks weird but if a person continue staring at it, they would feel like it contained some worldly mysteries
However, Rezen was not able to stare at the tattoo for a long time as it glowed with a green light
Before Rezen can move, a vine was already wrapped around his leg and it dragged his body in the air
"What the hell!!" Rezen cried out. The vine was connected to one of the tall trees and it left him hanging in the air
"Hiss!"
A sharp pain tortured Rezen and when looks at the source, he saw that the vine in his leg has thorns in it that sinks into the flesh of his legs and it even feels like the vine was sucking his blood
"How vicious! If I let the vine be, my blood would be sucked dry. If I panicked and hurriedly cut it off, I might also die but from the fall!"
Rezen shuddered as he realizes that this forest is really dangerous. It must have more than one trap!
Fortunately, the vine only has thorns in the area where it was wrapped on his leg. As such, Rezen grabbed the vine as he raised his body
If he fall while in an upside-down position, his skull would crack open!
Rezen has to land foot first if he doesn't want to die
After positioning himself, Rezen used a simple [Water Blade] spell and to his relief, the vine was easily cut off
Without the support of the vine, Rezen started to fall but he braced himself for the impact
"Motherfucker!" Rezen cursed. His right leg is already injured and the impact from the fall wasn't light at all!
Rezen guesses that if a person survived the blood-sucking motherfucking vine trap, they would still be left with serious injuries!
Vicious! Those kidnappers are just too vicious!
Luckily, Rezen has recovery pills that he immediately used. If not, he might really die in this forest!
"Damn, I think I have to make sure that I always have tons of recovery pills!"
Rezen originally have gaping wounds in his leg, revealing the flesh inside but they instantly 'recovered to their peak condition' thanks to the pill
He is now traumatized by this forest and Rezen tread it with more caution than before
He only has one life and he should not waste it!
Rezen walked slowly while minding the ground, afraid that he would step on another trap when he felt some pain again
This time, it came from his palm and he saw that a mosquito actually bit him!
In anger, Rezen tried to slap the mosquito to death but it quickly flew away
"Wait, what the fuck? Why is that mosquito's dengue so potent?!"
Rezen sucked a mouthful of air. In his palm was a disgusting tumor!
He was simply bitten by that damned mosquito yet it already grew him this tumor?! What is wrong with this forest?! Why is it so vicious?
Rezen's heart shuddered and he swallowed another pill. He saw the tumor automatically falling off his palm, revealing the unaffected flesh inside that soon healed thanks to the pill
"Just what would I do without the pills?" Rezen thought as he shuddered
As much as Rezen is afraid, the only way to survive is to pass the test and he can only continue
This time, he didn't encounter any other trap but he did encounter one of the humans that were captured with him
"Friend, d-do you want to team up? This forest is too dangerous!" The human said and Rezen remembered that he was the one that know what a blessed land is
He seems to have also suffered in this forest as he gave off a roasted scent
His face was black as if he wipe charcoal on it and parts of his clothes were also burned
Even half of his eyebrows were missing!
Seems like there are more traps in this forest than Rezen encountered
This guy might have encountered a fire-type trap that reduced him to this sorry state
"Yes, sure" Rezen agreed as he don't think that surviving in this forest would be easy
"Hooo... a cooperation I see" a familiar voice entered their ears and their muscles instantly tensed up
When they raised their heads, they saw Fifteen, the red hair guy sitting on one of the tree branches
His expression was playful as if he had just seen something amusing
After gaining the attention of the two, Fifteen jumped down from the tree. That height would definitely give Rezen a fracture if he jumped from it but Fifteen landed leisurely
In fact, he even cracked the ground beneath him as dust wafted in the air
While the ground was cracked, Fifteen was not the least bit injured from that fall at all
"Cooperation is good but why would we make things easy for maggots?" Fifteen said playfully and Rezen that already had his water-type mystic gem out controlled it to hover in front of him, ready to activate a spell any moment from now
"I will give our lovely maggots two choices to proceed from here and there would only be two results. One is dying and the other is surviving"
Fifteen's Tattoo spread all around his body again as a terrifying pressure descended down causing the faces of the 'maggots' to turn pale
"Choose! Kill the other and you can proceed or the two of you cooperate to fight me. Only if you win could you proceed!"
What fight? Just the casual pressure of this bastard is already overwhelming! How are they supposed to fight something like that?
Rezen was still in the process of pushing down his morality when he already senses the movement of mana
His survival instincts were stimulated as he ducked and rolled down
Boom!
Fire exploded from Rezen's original position and he saw the guy that suggest cooperation earlier looking at him coldly
"I'm sorry but I have to survive" the guy said coldly and Rezen's countenance turned dark. Does this guy think that he does not need to survive like him?
How dare this bastard sneak attack him when Rezen is only just 90% decided that he would rather fight a fellow human than this red hair monster!
What a bastard and traitor!
Rezen's face turned red in anger. Does he really look like a pushover?
First, it was the thief, and now this traitor!
"Give up, you are only a 1st fusion mage. You can't defeat me" the bastard continued, his 2nd fusion mystic gem hovering around him
"Hahahaha! Good! This is good!" Fifteen laughed loudly but Rezen is not in the mood for him
He just got betrayed when he still needed a few seconds earlier for the 90% to turn into 100% decided in betraying this traitor
This hurts his ego!
"Who can defeat who is still not known yet!" Rezen rebuked and the other guy just shook his head
"Fine, then [Fire Stream!]"
The first attack from earlier only has the power of 1st fusion spells but this [Fire Stream] is at the 2nd fusion grade, much stronger than the first spell!
Rezen snorted as an ocean blue magic circle formed in front of him that released a stream of water energies
"[Water Stream!]"
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