Chapter 109 109: Murdureous Intent Thick In The Air



Prince Charming turned to face Jack, his eyes stern. "This isn't just a game," he said in a deep voice. "It's a trial. A test of your strength and will to survive."

Jack frowned, his hands balling into fists. "But why?" he asked. "Why does it have to be this way? There are other ways to test our abilities and determination, aren't there?"

Prince Charming's expression didn't waver, showcasing life was as cheap as cabbage to him. It didn't seem weird, as he wasn't a human, but rather a monster, a being who was foreign to the concept of kindness. 

"Only the worthy are allowed to ascend the tower," he said. "The ones who possess the skills, cunning, and ferocity to outsmart and vanquish their opponents, despite their ties. The rest, well, they deserve to be disposed of."

"So inhumane."

"What did you expect from a monster."

The crowd let out a collective gasp, and Prince Charming chuckled softly. 

"Don't act surprised," he continued. "You knew what you were getting into when you entered the tower. It's evident in the way you carry yourselves and the way you dress. But participating in this challenge is optional. If you lack the courage and ruthlessness to compete, I suggest you leave the tower now. You've earned that right because of reaching the second floor. But once the trial starts, it will be too late. After all, you can't use that privilege during the trials of the floors."

Jack's jaw clenched as he met Prince Charming's gaze. "I didn't come all this way just to give up now. I'm in this until the end. Whatever it takes to reach the next floor, I'll do it."

Others in the crowd nodded in agreement, echoing Jack's resolve.

Some, however, decided to leave the tower, content with their newfound status within the clan. They had already elevated their standing in the Imperial Frost Clan by making it to the top 150 of the inheritance war, and they were unwilling to risk their lives any further.

Prince Charming strode towards the gaping entrance of the building, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black expanse beyond. 

"The trial will commence shortly," he said, looking back at Evan and the other participants. "Before it starts, you'll be teleported randomly into the wilderness. Where you end up after getting teleported depends on your luck." 

Then, he clapped his hands, producing a sharp sound, and a mystical symbol materialized under the feet of the contestants. 

"May the odds be ever in your favor," he quipped before vanishing into the building.

As soon as Prince Charming stepped inside, the heavy doors slammed shut, and the participants were whisked away to different locations in the wilderness by the glowing magic symbol under their feet.

Evan squeezed his eyes shut, disoriented from the abrupt teleportation that had whisked him away to an unknown location.

Dizzy and confused, he squinted to make out his surroundings, but everything seemed hazy and unfocused, like an impressionist painting.

He staggered, flailing his arms to steady himself. The squishy sensation beneath his feet and the sloshing noise that echoed around him made it dawn on him that he was submerged in water. The putrid smell emanating from it and wafting in the air was overpowering enough to make him gag, revealing to him the severity of the filth he was in. He also realized that the water was shallow, as his feet was pressed against the murky surface.

Gradually, his vision adapted to the dimness of the surroundings, allowing him to take in his surroundings.

He found himself smack dab in the middle of a swamp, murky water churning about his ankles. The unclean liquid stuck to his flesh, suffocating him with its nauseating stench.

"Ugh, it reeks!" He recoiled in revulsion, wrinkling his nose in disgust, and attempted to inhale through his mouth to avoid the repulsive odor.

'Being a prince, I have never been to such a filthy place before.'

'This is pure torture.'

He knew whining wouldn't get him anywhere though.

Thus, he sucked it up and pushed through, trying to make sense of where he was.

He glanced up and saw the same starry night sky that he had seen moments ago when he appeared on the second floor. It was then that he confirmed he was still on the second floor of the Monster Tower, his doubts cleared. However, his surroundings had drastically changed. Gone was the bright and sunny area, replaced by a dim and damp environment.

Thick and dense trees encircled him, casting creepy shadows on the murky water's surface. The gnarled roots of the trees contorted above the waterline, while small vines and mossy tendrils clung to the tree trunks, slithering down towards the water like serpents.

The air was thick with a putrid stench, and an eerie silence hung around him, enveloping him like a blanket.

"Where have I been teleported to?"

He scrutinized his new surroundings with caution as.he made his way through the swamp.

Splash!

Abruptly, the quietness was shattered by the sound of a frigid snort and a splash of water that seem to emerge from not too far away.

Evan's heart raced.

He wasn't alone in this unsettling place!

He whipped his head towards the direction of the commotion and spotted a pack of ferocious Hellhounds stepping out from behind the tree. Their eyes glowed like fireflies in the dark, and their razor-sharp teeth shimmered under the moonlight. Each hound was a towering two meters tall, flaunting bulging muscles and claws that appeared to hold the power to slice through magic weapon with ease.

And if that wasn't enough, a towering Minotaur emerged from behind a nearby tree, wielding a blood-soaked axe that seemed to have witnessed countless battles. The beast was even taller than the Hellhounds, standing at least three meters tall. Its fur was mangled and smudged with dirt, and its nose bore a silver ring, adding -4 charm points to its already ominous appearance.

The Minotaur's eyes gleamed with a savage, bloodthirsty light, while its horns appeared sturdy enough to pierce through concrete.