Chapter 88 Defend: Glyph Monsters!

"You better show potential, or I'll charge you the damages!"

The damages?! Jack couldn't even fathom how high those were already! 1) One Dormitory Barrier 2) Two Weird Boulders 3)… And perhaps some medical bills?!

This probably wouldn't be a sum he'd be able to gather, even if he reached into his contacts' deep pockets! No, he couldn't afford to disappoint the man, not at all!

"Fine, what comes next? Lead the way!"

"Hehe, you seem confident."

Why did the Headmaster's chuckle feel foreboding? Jack forced himself to ignore the man's amused gaze as they went toward the next challenge… luckily, it wasn't a boulder this time!

This courtyard was a strange one.

There were glyphs all over the floor, all showing strange monster-like patterns. Their monstrous appearances were so well represented that it almost felt like they'd come alive.

May it be countless fangs, deadly scythe-arms, or even tentacles, all seemed like they'd make short work of any human. Actually, it didn't just seem… there was something off!

Those… felt like they were lying in ambush?!

Jack could already sense a vague sense of danger in them. He eyed them suspiciously, staying at the edge of the challenge area, which made the Headmaster chuckle.

"Hehe, don't be too scared. Now, stand in the middle, and let's begin. Exit the boundaries, and you'll be disqualified. Easy, right?" The Headmaster instructed.

As for the original test administrator, he was the only one that hadn't been turned away by his superior, and he was now gazing evilly at him, a snicker on his lips.

So this whole arena was a trap, right?

Jack reluctantly got in position, the trial activating. It glowed with a dark light as the glyphs seemingly came alive! 'Freaking knew it!'

There was already one biting at his ankles!

Fight back? Nope! He ran.

The attacker was an illusory bird-looking shadow, but with more fangs than feathers! As the thing barely missed him, he could see it in all its dreadful splendor.

Was this monster crazy strong? Not really. The issue was that he could sense countless more swimming under the stone pavement! Now, they were all heading toward him!

— SCRAAAKKK! SCRAAKKK! —

Their raspy cries irritated his ears, but this was but the beginning. Those devilish things wanted him DEAD! He didn't look back; he just kept running.

Every time one was about to devour him, he suddenly changed direction! There were so many that they formed the deadliest moving maze ever!

More and more kept appearing, and he would have nowhere to go at this rate! Even as he sensed them coming, he struggled to keep up.

He felt like discount toilet paper in a Covid Epidemic, countless glyph monsters trying to get their claws on him. At this moment, one thing and only one thing kept him dodging:

'Can't go into debt, can't go into debt!"

He was doing this for FoxZone! He'd take over the mercantile world, make tons of gold, and buy tons of tasty treats for his loyal servants! This was his resolve!

— Dodge! Dodge! Dodg— STAB! —

Just as he kept avoiding, a pricked tentacle managed to reach him, the thing leaving a gash on his left leg. Leg and hand bleeding, he was a terrifying sight… yet he kept running.

Just a little more, just a little more…

As for the administrators, they gazed at the scene strangely. There was something wrong with it… how was the kid still alive?! He was far too slow… was he predicting?!

The Headmaster was enjoying the show: "Interesting. How interesting!"

Yet, even Jack eventually reached his limits.

He could feel himself being drained more and more. At this rate, he would have no choice but to give up. He was simply outmanned.. And by a lot!

At this rate, he'd get seriously wounded… making him unable to take on further challenges. No, he had to end it now! He had to—

"Wait, kid! There's something strange about those tentacles! I actually have an idea… but you'll have to trust me!" The Old Ghost's voice suddenly resounded in his ears.

Then he explained how the Glyphs seemed to be reacting to his Mana and Spirit. The things would respond to the human presence, and the faster he went, the faster they did too!

"Tch— So what? Even if I don't move, they'll come for me!" Jack remarked.

"That may not be entirely true. Perhaps you could try to…."

The more the Old Ghost explained, the crazier his idea felt. He wanted Jack to basically commit suicide… on a hunch of his. Yes, a hunch; he wasn't even sure!

"Kid, what do you have to lose? The Headmaster will need you alive to collect on your debt. Without trying this, I don't see you completing this trial either" He shrugged.

He wasn't wrong, either.

Jack hardened his mind and his body. Then he…

As he suddenly stopped moving entirely, even the Headmaster yelped in shock. "What are you doing?! You'll die! Quick! Say you give up!" he screamed, panicked.

Yet, Jack already couldn't hear him, far too busy using one of his titles.

[Activating Title: "Searching for Inner Peace!"]

At this moment, he hadn't just stopped his feet, but his mind too! He was neither listening nor thinking about anything in particular, his mind going blank.

The Glyphs reacted to his Mana and Spirit? Then what would happen if he suddenly went quiet? Not the usual quiet either, but one that made him look deader than alive too!

He stood in place, bleeding from multiple injuries. One could have even taken him for a highly realistic scarecrow at that instant.

That's when it happened…

The Glyphs suddenly couldn't feel their target anymore. Since that was the case, they lazily returned to their respective stone tiles, even swaying with the air of victory.

Only Jack remained in the center, alone and undisturbed. He neither celebrated nor did he rejoice when the Headmaster whistled in appreciation. Except one wasn't happy.

"Sir, this is cheating! We need to do something about this!" the VIP tester cried out. He couldn't believe that Jack had cheated on yet another test!

"Pfft— If this is what a cheater is like… then I wish all our students were cheaters! It takes some serious fucking balls to do what he just did." He nodded appreciatively.

"But S-Sir…?!"

"That's the end of it. This one's a pass! Still, that leaves only one test successfully passed out of them all. He still has to prove himself!" The Headmaster added.

Jack slowly opened his eyes. Now, what came next?!…