They say the best way to gauge a person's worth is through a trial that tests everything — brains, brawn, survival instinct. A test where death isn't just possible, it's expected. This exam? Just a watered-down version of what comes after. Blood and sacrifice are cheap here
[I don't want to spoil this part of the exams. I'll be no more than a bystander at this point. You won't grow if I keep babying you.]
"Yes, Daddy!!!" Kang Sei Jun politely uttered as his eyes sparkled while his face contorted to be cutesy and sarcastic.
[KILL YOURSELF, RETARD!]
"Woah aren't you quite angsty today? Take the chill pill pops. I can handle this nice and eas- shit!!!" Sei Jun was then startled by a well-hidden mud alligator with its jaws wide open. It tried to clamp on his crotch.
His quick and reactive instincts triggered a plight or fight response and his etheric constitution created a powerful blast. The explosion was enough to send him packing, yet he propelled himself back to the ground in a matter of seconds. His attack staggered the hybrid alligator, proving its durability to be unusually high even when faced with the heat of his flame.
'I've already known this going forward. I only gained the talent. But my proficiency is, at best in its early stages. Be that as it may, the fact that my flames are at a higher level compared to the norms is already a good start. I'm ahead by a few steps but I'm not satisfied. I need it to be domineering and powerful, so I wouldn't be oppressed no matter what,'
A short fuse sparked in his feet boosting his sprint as he ran towards the maw of this overgrown lizard. The heat concentrated at his right foot grew hotter by the second; the alligator lunged forth with ignorance and pride. The jaws it so openly widens were enough to devour him whole; Sei Jun weaved and released the explosion in his feet.
"I would've been in trouble if you've used your tail. You're tough alright. But your mobility is weak as hell,"
Its strong and bulky build was a threat to those who yearned to fight this beast head-on, but for Sei Jun, it was perfect. His flame output was destructive, yet with his application, he made it mobile to a degree where it was ingenious. The blast sent him hovering above the alligator, and he propelled himself downwards, and using his right foot, he stomped the beast.
"Sure enough, if the temperature is too hot, I can even penetrate your scales. Checkmate Mr. Gator. Do you want to be rare or medium? Should I go for a well done?"
He released an intense heat within his right foot circulating it through the gator's body. The flame-seared its innards, burning its flesh from the inside till it crisped the already hardened scales. As the monarch instructed, he ate the gigantic lizard unbeknownst to him that the spicy texture he loved was its poisonous tendencies.
"Whoaaaa!!! This is so watery and delectable! It's a bit spicy as well! I don't understand why anyone made a big deal about storing rations, are they a picky eater or something?"
[You could say that. Once you finish, I suggest you hunt some more. It seems you've been transported to the den of the Mud Alligators. With the subspace pouch we bought, we can place these sacks of meat right after you cook them so they won't expire.]
The first exams were mostly known for how brutal and complex the criteria needed for an aspiring Regular to pass. The Trial Of Grasses was home to many dangers, be it nature, hidden traps, and even conflict among examinees. This was unavoidable, for the only source of sustenance was a few dozen peach trees scattered near the territory of the beast. Even if they were to resort to eating monsters, the administrators had carefully selected them to be inedible. With their tenacity to be deadly or poisonous and even a mix of both.
[Remaining Participants left: 431
• Time left: 65 hours, 51 minutes, 19 seconds
• Current Location: Center of the Den of the Beast
• Points:
Killed six Mud Alligators - 5000 per kill
Satiate hunger - 1000
Surviving after ingesting poison - 10000
Gain notoriety and fear from beast - 3000
Maintaining your current position despite the rise of increasing danger: 2000
Set camp: 500
Ward off living threats using notoriety - 300
Decorate yourself with the bones of your victims - 700
Maintain your hygiene - 100
Survive an hour without moving - 400
Survive two hours without moving- 800
Survive three hours without moving - 1200
Survive four hours without moving - 1600
Survive five hours without moving - 2000
Survive six hours without moving - 2400
Totaling to: 56,000 points]
"Strange..." As Sei Jun sat on the ribs of the Mud Alligator and wore its skull as a hat from the intense heat, he came to be puzzled.
[What's wrong?]
"It says here I ingested something poisonous? I thought the poisonous gas dissipated before I got teleported. Or was there a whiff of it left?" This was the first time Sei Jun had witnessed a Mud Alligator in person, and never heard of its characteristics or traits.
[Although it barely had an effect it is poison. No matter how strong the flame is it'll remain for a long time. Do you think I'd lie to you?]
Seeing as Sei Jun was a loner in this exam, the Monarch found it meaningless to inform him of the alligator's poison. Considering that it satiates him as well as raises the proficiency of his Pyronite ether as it purged the incoming poison. Time passed by, and nightfall came; he never left the spot and remained there even after seven Mud Alligators attacked. Having butchered their meat and stored it in his pouch, he lit up a torch circling his camp decorated in bones.
[Sei Jun, why are you the hell are you slow roasting that chunk of meat with the campfire instead of your flames?]
"Finally calling me by my name are we? I realize that if I use a normal fire. Even if morning comes it'll be rare at best," Sei Jun's focus shifted the moment he slowly realized how cozy the Monarch had become.
"Wait a minute... how come you can call me by my name? I don't even know yours. Can you tell me?"
[Hmmm... in your dreams, I refer to myself as the Monarch of [Redacted], which is censored. Maybe my human name wouldn't be censored. You can call me Ace, and thats the only thing you're gonna refer to me. You can also call me Invincible, Fearless, Sensual, Mysterious, Enchanting, Vigorous, Diligent, Overwhelming, Gorgeous, Passionate, Terrifying, Beautiful, Powerful, Black Flame Ace if you'd like.]
"I'm gonna go ahead and sleep. I can't even tolerate your narcissistic tone. Wake me up when it's morning,"
[Aren't you even afraid this meat is gonna get snatched!!?]
"It won't... after I killed more than ten Mud Alligators, I couldn't even feel a growl in the bush. Good night Ace,"
Ace was about to make a reply, but as soon as Sei Jun's head landed on the pillow, he immediately fell asleep. The comfort it granted couldn't compare to the moldy pillow and splintery bedding he'd experienced in his life. His price of attaining the new record came with a luxury tent, having heating, a plump pillow, and protection from the outside world. That night his camp gained fresh blood as a group examiner sought to ransack him of his earnings, however
"Yo boss! Can we eat first? That guy must've been taking a power nap. If not then why would he leave food out?" One of the goons stopped their leader from attacking the tent upon mentioning the slowly roasted meat.
"Huh, how did I miss that? Seeing as our pal over here is loaded I highly doubt he'd eat these Mud Alligator meat," The leader replied and added. "Even if it were the meat of a Mud Alligator he must have detoxified its poison,"
"Yippie we'll finally get to eat meat! I fucking hate those peach trees. They taste like shit. Finally some real food!"
"You heard it clear boys! Tonight we feast!! Conroy, come here and slice this meat evenly for the crew!!!"
"On it boss!" One of the henchmen sliced the meat and distributed it to everyone in their crew except for their captives.
"Bon appetite... hmm. This is delicious! No wonder they bought a detoxifier!! It sure does melt in my teeth-"
The gang leader noticed something odd as his thoughts were set on voicing his delight, but he was incapable of speaking. A sharp sting pierced his head, and as he opened his eyes, he realized the meat had melted his lower jaw, including his tongue. He lost all control of his body as the pain seemed to intensify, and the meat he gorged melted his lower half.
'This meat... it was never detoxified in the first place. There's no way that person would've eaten this shit. Unless he's a notorious talent of the Jang Sichuan, one of the Ten Great Families on the first floor? Damn it all! How could I have fallen so easily due to my hunger, I shouldn't have insisted, it cost my life and my crew,'
"Kyaaahh!!!" The Captive examinees they brought along to eat the moment they grew desperate screamed in horror as they witnessed their slow, horrific death.
"Can you shut the fuck up? Can't a guy get a shut-eye in the middle of the night? God I swear I'll burn you to death-"
As Sei Jun got up and vacated his tent he found dozens of melting carcasses near his tent. Bound examinees screamed in horror as they witnessed a horrific death, and in their corpses, he found a chunk of meat. The same thing Sei Jun had been gorging till nightfall and as he realized he took the diary from the tent and slapped it with his hand
[What's the big idea? It's rude when you hit someone out of the blue - Oh, hi, Sei Jun. What a pleasant evening this is]
Ace already knew what happened at a glance. The melting corpse, the screaming examinees, and Sei Jun's wide, suffocating smile. The Monarch knew they'd fucked up badly, and worse, they noticed Sei Jun's sadistic smile when they mentioned that they could feel pain. What's more terrifying is how his second successor is tightly gripping a knife even as he stares daggers in Ace's way.
[Put that knife away, Sei Jun... hey, don't you know who I am? I'm s fricking Monarch! You think you can act like that to me- Okay, okay, okay I'm sorry! Don't stab me please!!!]