NOVGO.NET Chapter 430: Second Trial: Blessing!
Chapter 430: Second Trial: Blessing!
“P-Pass…”
’Mister Unicorn’ stuttered.
And he wasn’t the only one. The Instructor had barely uttered when the soldiers under him gasped in incomprehension. Was this still their ever-so-impartial leader?
A few couldn’t stop their tongues:
“Boss, did he actually kill a gecko?”
“There’s no way! I’ve been watching the whole time.”
“Still, there has to be an explanation, right? Boss, please tell us!”
Even as they earnestly begged they weren’t questioning his orders, but simply wanting to understand them. And seeing their clear eyes full of questions, the Instructor sighed.
“He didn’t kill a gecko, but a brethren, indirectly that is. Count the number of Newborns carefully, there will be one missing. That’s what happened…”
“B-Boss, a Newborn missing? A dozen’s missing!”
“W-What?! There’s no way that—”
Jack simply shrugged.
Seeing the nonchalant youngster’s attitude, the Instructor hurriedly relaunched the earlier recording, this time with all the soldiers rushing to watch it together!
A youngster failing to kill geckos.
A youngster changing strategy entirely.
A youngster intimidatingly rushing at a Newborn.
And then he did it again, and again, and bloody again?! Fury flashing in their eyes, they all glared at the youngster who couldn’t have been more cold-blooded.
“Hey, no need to scowl, you never know with recordings. What if I completed the task but the camera missed it? What if it captured it from my bad side? Gotta make sure it’s perfect!”
Bad side? What kind of psychotic murderer WANTED to be recorded like that?! Seeing his lack of remorse, many exploded with turbulent mana, ready to teach him a lesson.
Yet, as they powerfully screamed at him, he kept casually replying:
“You bastard! Do you know what you’ve—”
“Bastard? My Shaman calls me Jack!”
“Do you think we’re kidding?”
“Kidding? Can it be eaten?”
“Avenge the Newborns!”
“I’m a Newborn”
Even as they rushed at him, he didn’t move one bit. First came enough killing intent to terrify an adult, and even now he didn’t move?! What kind of balls did this young lizard have?!
But then a second later he actually panicked, thinking aloud all flustered:
“Ah?! What was it again?! What did my Shaman say again?! When she was surrounded by Rock Hard Lizardmen she… right, GET NAKED!” Jack didn’t just say it, he did it instantly!
The words and the scene were so unexpected that even his assailants couldn’t help but freeze. Did this kid have brain damage?! What would getting naked possibly do in this— oh.
It was only then that they finally remembered that they were technically facing a Newborn too. Still, that wouldn’t change the fact that he was a bastard that had to be put down!
They locked unto him and… froze again?!
“Wait a minute. Look at his body!”
“Those markings…. Scaly?!”
“Is he a Champion?!”
As soon as they saw the Scaly Curse they all stopped, having misgivings. They weren’t sure what those runes even meant, but they could clearly feel a familiar aura out of it! Could it be?!
And just as they were frozen still, the Instructor swaggered over frowning all the while before sighing. “Enough. He passes… for now. But there won’t be any next time. Understood, kid?”
Killing was great to weed out the weaklings, but it had to stop at some point or they wouldn’t have any troops left. Seeing the man’s determination, Jack ’meekly’ and politely nodded.
But as obedient as he was outwardly…
’Pfft! And now they think I’m WITH Scaly!’ Jack couldn’t help but feel mischievous as he saw their looks of anger turn to respectful ones that contained a glint of excitement.
The Instructor’s low chuckle was the only thing that brought them all to their senses. “Stop gawking, we’ll know VERY soon! After all, if it’s fake then he’ll die for sure, hehe.”
Die for sure? Know very soon? Jack suddenly had a very bad feeling about this! But without caring one bit about his feelings, the Instructor kept going.
“The first trial was to SLAUGHTER…”
He looked at them all, grinning. “And after a great battle is the perfect time for a blessing! Come, follow me, little ones!” He energetically led them with steps so big they felt gigantic.
The scene looked almost comical with a bunch of younglings following after as if ducklings following their mum. Still, even as the Newborns followed, they clearly kept away from Jack.
He was akin to the eye of the storm, one so peaceful-looking yet hiding endless chaos! But little did the little ones know that under his cool appearance hid a restless heart.
This could be hella bad!
What if it clashed with his curse?
What if he just couldn’t pass this?
Jack was already planning contingencies in his mind! Getting kicked out of the Training Grounds was akin to a death sentence, Lizzy had made that VERY clear!
What if he faked the whole thing? What if he tried intimidating or bribing whoever conducted that test? What if he faked being unwell and retried a little bit later? What if—
Just as he was thinking, they arrived. A gigantic statue: one of a conqueror lizard emanating so much power it was electrifying! But what was even more impressive was the stance.
One clawed hand raised victoriously.
One world-defying and more than tyrannical grin.
One throne made of slaves of countless conquered species
As soon as Jack saw it, he shivered. The throne made of slaves? There were plenty of humans sculpted in there, the despair on their faces evident.
This wasn’t just a statue but was also—
“Hehe, who wants to go first? This one’s pretty easy actually, no need to fear. See that nice Scaly statue? Just go and touch it. A single claw will do, so who wants to go first?”
The Instructor’s quiet cackling couldn’t have been more ominous. Under the booming sound of his laugh, no newborn dared to move forward! Seeing this, Jack couldn’t help but sigh.
“Do I have to do everything myself?”
Oh? Was he going in that valiantly? Amidst a sea of terrorized youngsters, he alone was different as he heroically went forward and heroically glared at another Newborn.
Stare
Stare
Stare
“Eeek!” With a scream, the Newborn ran out. Between a scary statue and Jack the choice was obvious! Fueled by its preservation instinct, the lizard went forward at full speed!
In a matter of seconds, it was upon the statue, touching it, and — SPLATTER!
As the poor lizard exploded in a shower of blood, even Jack stilled.
[Ding! Drove Yet Another One To Death!]
[Thanatos is Proud AND Worried!]
[Can Even You Survive This?!]
Even Jack didn’t know! But before he could think about it, the Instructor’s booming voice was already calling out: “Next, keep it moving little ones. We don’t have all day!”
He didn’t mind the blood on his face, even calmly licking some of it as if he had expected that result from the very start as he chuckled evilly once again.
“No need to despair, there’s a 70% survival rate to this. Well, most of the time anyway.”
Was this supposed to reassure anyone?! Yet, even after this Jack stepped forth, already calling out as one would to a neighbor’s dog.
“Who’s a good statue? Yes, you are! Please don’t blow me up, alright?”
There went nothing, and everything at once…