Chapter 632 - Opportunity (1)

My body was being used as a dartboard, the hunter slowly enjoying their time by throwing more knives in different parts of my limbs. I couldn't feel anything anymore, my filtered red vision flickering in and out. I didn't try escaping, both my hands punctured to the walls, blood slowly dripping down to the ground. My feet hung above the floor, stabbed by many forks, some stuck inside my toes. Some of the guests looked away from me, not able to continue seeing such a horrible scene.

"I am sorry for your loss," one of the guests turned to Alex.

"I offer you my gratitude," Alex's voice slowly broke down.

I slowly began to realize the legendary item wasn't worth its price, regretting I didn't listen to Micah's warnings. I was losing more than my physical health, my sanity entering hell. Since I gave up on life, I didn't react to the sword crashing through my back. When I looked down, a sharp katana faced me instead of the ground. Screaming for help wasted more of my energy, knowing no one could save me.

[Round Started: Two minutes remaining]

"Rika, I'm sorry for accepting the offer in your place," Miliana wiped her tears.

"I'm adding to the lawsuits. I'll make sure to get the justice you deserve," she angrily trembled.

"Our business deals are to be cancelled as well," Charles coldly stared at Haruka.

"No one messes with one of our own," he made Haruka shudder.

I slightly smiled, getting comforted by my friends. It gave me the energy to continue manipulating my mana to keep myself alive. Maybe I could live through this round if the hunter was generous enough. I still had four more rounds remaining, giving the hunter more chances to kill me. I watched the rest of the guests cancelling their business deals with Haruka, helping me get my revenge. We wouldn't need those documents anymore to throw Haruka out of our fraction.

[Game Clear: Other Condition Fulfilled]

[Destination to Temple: Five Minutes Later]

My eyes widened, not expecting to have cleared the trial. I was filled with happiness, feeling extremely grateful Luke managed to recover in time. And since no one was holding Charles and Alex back anymore, they were free to move. Removing themselves from the walls, Alex immediately ran towards me, pulling all the cutlery out of me. Miliana and Charles joined to attempt to get me out of the wall, simultaneously using heal to make sure I wouldn't die from blood loss.

After pulling the sword out, my position was switched to lay down on the floor. I didn't move while Alex poured all his energy in healing me. There were many holes in my body, worse than the previous social week when I got attacked by fairies. Wanting to forget everything, I felt the last few minutes of my life getting blurrier in my mind. Once I was able to talk, I blamed Haruka, "I repeatedly told him not to bring any new plates and utensils."

"Get rid of those weapons!" Alex shouted at Haruka.

"You almost murdered my cousin from your carelessness!" He looked at him with disgust.

"The doors are locked," Haruka pitifully shrank.

"They open now," A guest was fascinated, turning the doorknob.

Before I was completely healed, I stiffened from my hands flickering in and out of existence inside the dining room. Alex's eyes went large, slowly watching me disappear. The mediator was bringing me to the temple, finding myself in front of him the next second. When he opened his hand, a brilliant pearl sparkled in the dazzling sunlight, almost blinding my eyes. This was what I had suffered for, sacrificing many things in the process.

"Congratulations, here is the pearl," he passed to me.

"So this is what it looks like," Micah came out of the portal to join us.

"Make sure you keep it well hidden. After passing the trial, most fairies die from becoming a target of others who want to steal it from them," he warned me.

Staring at the pearl, I felt like throwing it on the ground. I didn't want to become another target. However, I didn't have a safe place to store it. I really should have listened to Micah back then. I sighed while placing the pearl inside my inventory, hoping it would become useful later. Sadly gazing at Micah for another solution since he seemed to have a lot of knowledge.

"You can transfer the ownership to someone you trust. The target will shift to them," Micah revealed.

Who did I know that could keep the pearl safe and willing to give it to me when I needed it? Running through all the possibilities inside my head, I landed at a prime candidate. Luke wouldn't hesitate to use the pearl on me, saving the item instead of using it for himself. He was good at managing our bank accounts and seemed to be perfect in everything. My eyes brightened, planning to shift the target to Luke, who I was always stuck with.

"For those who pass the trial. We offer them an opportunity to get a lesser item," the mediator interrupted my thoughts.

"Can I decline?" I blurted, not wanting to suffer again.

"However, you have no choice but to take the trial for the lesser item. You have a few rounds remaining due to our consideration for your young age," he surprised both Micah and me.

"At least tell me what the lesser item is!" I unfroze.