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 Spirit Energy a constant reminder that survival was not guaranteed.
Theos 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, Theos 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, Theos closed his eyes and began channeling his Spirit Energy. His body's Spirit Energy had increased significantly, nearly fivefold after the second test. The strands of Spirit Energy 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, Xiphos 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. Xiphos dodged instinctively, rolling to his left as the projectile embedded itself in a tree trunk, leaving a noticeable crack.
Springing to his feet, Xiphos drew his sword, 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 level two beasts, their speed and strength equivalent to muscle forging cultivators. Silver-ranked monsters worth 100 points each, they were a formidable challenge even for Xiphos because of their numbers.
The pack didn't wait long. The first wolf lunged with terrifying speed, its claws swiping at Xiphos. 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 Xiphos to twist and deflect with his sword. The clash sent vibrations up his arms, the sheer strength of the beast almost overwhelming.
Xiphos darted between the trees, using the terrain to his advantage. A wolf lunged from his left, and Xiphos 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.
Xiphos 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 Xiphos to dive forward into a roll. As he came up, one wolf was already upon him, its fangs snapping at his arm. Xiphos swung his sword in an upward arc, cleaving the wolf's head clean off in a spray of blood.
Another wolf attacked from his flank, and Xiphos parried its strike, the sheer force of the collision cracking the tree beside them. Xiphos 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. Xiphos 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 Xiphos with predatory intelligence. This wolf was different. Xiphos could sense the shadow energy radiating off its body, a tangible Spirit Energy that pressed against his own. The leader crouched low, then lunged with terrifying speed, faster than any of the others. Xiphos barely raised his sword in time, the impact sending a shockwave that cracked the ground beneath him.
The force threw Xiphos backward, his boots skidding across the dirt as he fought to maintain balance. The wolf didn't relent, pouncing again with claws extended. Xiphos 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," Xiphos thought, beads of sweat rolling down his face.
Xiphos 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. Xiphos 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. Xiphos crossed his swords, blocking the attack, but the force pushed him back, his feet digging grooves into the earth. He growled, channeling his Spirit Energy to enhance his speed, and darted forward, his blades a whirlwind of strikes.
The wolf leapt back, but Xiphos managed to land a deep slash across its flank. It howled in pain, its Spirit Energy flaring violently as the ground trembled beneath them. Xiphos 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. Xiphos 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. Xiphos 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. Xiphos stood over it, his chest heaving, blood dripping from both his wounds and his blade. The surrounding area was a battlefield of cracked earth and shattered trees, a testament to the ferocity of the fight.
Exhausted, Xiphos 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. Xiphos closed his eyes briefly, his mind already strategizing for the battles yet to come.
The wolves were not particularly problematic, but their numbers and Xiphos's precarious landing position made the fight significantly harder. Xiphos 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 Spirit Energy, Xiphos 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. Xiphos'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.
Xiphos 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 Xiphos'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 Xiphos'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 Xiphos. He opened his mouth to taunt but was cut short. Xiphos moved in an instant, a blur of speed that left the attackers stunned.
In a flash, Xiphos closed the distance, his sword cutting down in a clean arc. The spear shattered, and the man's hand was severed in the same motion. Xiphos spun, his momentum carrying him into a crouched position as his 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, Xiphos turned again, staying low as he prepared his next strike. He straightened, his sword 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.
Xiphos'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 Xiphos's attack with a single-finger covered in Spirit Energy, his stance calm and unyielding.
Xiphos jumped back instinctively, his mind racing. The leader, meanwhile, stumbled backward, his face pale with fear. He hadn't seen anything after Xiphos moved, his speed too fast to follow.
The older man removed the Spirit Energy from his finger and turned to Xiphos. "That's enough. There's no need to kill him," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Xiphos'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 Xiphos's tone.
Understanding dawned on Xiphos. 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," Xiphos 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 Xiphos briefly. "Continue."
With that, the instructor vanished, taking the three men and their severed limbs with him. The forest fell silent once more.
Xiphos 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.