NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: 28:The Survival Test
Hex's eyes paused on Lia. He wondered if he should ask her more, to press for information. He didn't know if the group had already discussed this, but luckily, once he brought up the topic, they started speaking.
"Haaa...! Ten days? I was already on the verge of death on the second day," Harry said with a frustrated look, wiping sweat off his brow.
"Many people already collapsed on the first day. Who knows how many will survive till the end," Hex said, trying to steer the conversation further.
Lia glanced at Hex and responded calmly. "Don't worry. I heard from Grandpa that no one is going to die during the trial. As for how that'll happen, I'm not really sure."
Hex quietly observed her, noting something in his mind. 'Her grandfather might be someone from the higher-ups in the Federation.'
"Surviving ten days isn't that hard. What's hard is getting a good score. You can survive just by hiding, but then you'll barely get any points," Brook added.
Cory looked annoyed and leaned forward. "Damn. What's making this harder is the fact that there's no leaderboard. We don't even know where we stand."
Hex, who had been quiet for a while, asked calmly, "Do you know how many points we get per kill? I ran into a swarm of snakes, but I didn't check the screen yet."
Brooklyn was the one to respond. "We don't know the full details either, but from what I counted, we get 5 points for killing normal beasts. None of us has taken down anything with a core or seen someone at 1-Star."
Hex thought for a moment, then spoke again. "I'm from a backward Sector, so I don't know much. But I've always wondered... has anyone already reached 1-Star before coming here? Like someone who went past MI-100 before joining the army?"
His words caught the group's attention, and they began to murmur.
"Now that you said it.No no one in my class reached 1-Star," someone muttered.
"But I heard the top ranker in my school was really strong. There's a high chance they reached it," another added.
"I'm sure some have already. Reaching MI-100 is harder than hitting 2-Star. Early growth requires a lot of body adaptation," Lia said with a thoughtful expression.
Brook clapped his hands and stood up. "Alright, I think that's enough talking. We've rested long enough. Time to get back to hunting."
The group nodded, slowly getting back on their feet, their faces steady and serious. The break had helped them relax a bit, but the tension of the trial still lingered in the air.
The group slowly moved through the dense forest, each step cautious but steady. The morning mist still lingered over the ground, making visibility low. Trees creaked quietly, and distant bird calls echoed through the air. Hex walked slightly ahead of the others, his eyes scanning every shadow, every rustle of leaves.
Lia walked beside him, holding a metal rod close to her body. Brooklyn and Cory trailed behind, chatting quietly about monster movements. Harry, still looking drained, kept wiping sweat from his forehead.
Hex suddenly raised his hand, signaling them to stop.
"Movement. Five o'clock. About twenty meters," he said calmly, crouching low.
Everyone followed his lead, hiding behind thick tree trunks or large stones. A few seconds later, the bushes ahead shook. A pack of hounds emerged—low to the ground, fur bristling, eyes glowing faintly yellow. They were sniffing around, drawn by the scent of humans.
Brooklyn gritted his teeth. "There are at least six of them. Might be more."
"Looks like they're scouting," Hex muttered. He watched them closely, trying to understand their formation. One of them was larger than the rest—its steps slower but more composed.
"That one's the alpha," he said, pointing.
Before the others could respond, the alpha beast suddenly turned its head toward them and growled. The rest followed. In seconds, they were charging.
"Here they come!" Cory shouted, drawing his blade.
Hex moved first. His hardened state had recovered partially. As the first beast leapt at him, he stepped aside and punched its ribs. A loud crack echoed as the creature flew sideways, yelping.
Brooklyn grabbed a wood and swung it another, splitting its head open.
Cory tapped on the ground that formed a long narrow head rod.
She broke it off from the ground and stabbed from behind, using a low thrust to hit a hound that had tried circling them.
Cory fought two at once, slashing wildly but holding his ground. Harry stayed close to a Lia defending with a glare.
Hex didn't waste time. Another beast lunged, its jaws snapping. He grabbed it mid-air and slammed it to the ground. Its spine broke under the force.
'Too weak,' Hex thought, narrowing his eyes. He saw another approaching from behind. He turned just in time, letting the jaws close around his forearm. The creature's teeth shattered on contact.
Its eyes widened in confusion.
"Bad idea," Hex muttered. He drove his knee into the beast's face, crushing it instantly.
"Behind you!" Brook shouted.
Hex spun around and grabbed the last hound trying to sneak up. With a single punch to the head, he sent it tumbling into the bushes, unmoving.
The fight ended within moments. The group stood breathing heavily, blood splattered on their arms and legs. Not a single beast survived.
"Are you okay?" Lia asked, wiping her cheek.
"Yeah. They were weak," Hex replied, checking his arm. Only slight bruises.
Brook nodded. "Good reflexes. You killed at least four alone."
Hex gave a small nod. He looked around again, eyes focused. "We should move. The blood will attract more. And this area's too open."
They didn't argue. Quietly, they began moving again, sticking close and checking their surroundings. The tension remained in the air, thick and pressing.
Hex walked calmly, but his thoughts ran deeper.
'That was just a low-level scouting pack. If stronger ones are around, things will get messier. I need to know how far my body can take it without rest.'
As they disappeared deeper into the woods, the leaves behind them rustled again from afar followed by faint quake radiating along the ground.