Chapter 13: Final Noon

Chapter 13: Final Noon

Kai tried to keep his face neutral and was pretty sure he did a terrible job. Fhazi still had six of the members of his entourage, including the two huge men and the suspicious woman. Though he wasn't as exhausted as just after killing the Direboar, Kai was tired and nearly weaponless.

To add insult to injury, every member of the group had awakened their Class. They might not have progressed much otherwise, but he'd be facing a storm of mana if it turned into a fight.

"Do you want the monster core?" Kai asked. His pack was secured in a tree and he didn't want to turn his back to get it, but he figured negotiation was worth a shot. "Others softened up the Direboar first, so I guess it's not fully my kill."

"You really think I'll let you get away so easily?" Fhazi sneered and took a step closer.

Actually, Kai had been hoping that they would forget the exact terms of the trial: the winner was the one who killed the Direboar, not the one holding its core at the end. Losing one core would have been a fair trade for avoiding an unwinnable fight. Unfortunately, it looked like Fhazi just wanted to beat someone.

There weren't a lot of options left. Maybe he could bait Fhazi into a duel? There was no reason for him to agree, but it might appeal to his ego. Kai reached for his spiritual vision - it felt like staring directly into the sun - and checked the young noble:

Name: Fhazi Lantrian

Total Power: 8

Grandfist Novice Class: 3

Physique Level: G-1

Soul Level: 1

Sacred Armor: 2

>

Even Fhazi had gained a powerful-sounding Class and increased it several times. Classes really were the fastest path to power.

"Witness my power!" Fhazi raised both his fists and mana began to flow from him. It slid in smooth curves that began solidifying around his fists, forming gauntlets that looked like they were made of woven steel. Steel that began glowing red hot.

It was all impressive, and rather slow. If he hadn't been so beaten, Kai would have tried to hit Fhazi before he could finish preparing. Some people were able to use their Classes extremely quickly, like Inafay, but he'd also noted that others were slow to warm up. That would be good to remember for the future, if he had a future.

"That's enough." The quiet voice drew everyone's attention, and Kai turned just in time to see Tusquo walk into the forest.

"You again?" Fhazi whirled on him and raised his fists. "You want to settle this now?"

While they all faced off, Kai began to edge away. He only got a few steps before a wall of thorn-covered vines erupted in his path. They hissed with so much mana that it emanated like steam, completely blocking off his path. The woman wasn't looking at him, but she was more than prepared.

Before he could think to go around, a burst of flames tore through the vines. Another man leapt through the gap - it was the Flamecaster from earlier. Kai felt the briefest flicker of happiness before the man's fiery eyes targeted him. Now he was trapped between four of them. All that kept him alive was the fact that the vine-user and her partner were turning to face the new threat.

"He's mine!" Fhazi yelled. "All of you get away!"

"All of you are mine." The Flamecaster grinned and his teeth glowed with inner flame.

"If you think you can-"

"Enough!" The warrior bearing the hammer slammed it down into the ground and shouted loud enough to silence all the others. "We all want the juiciest target. Don't let him turn us against each other. We defeat him first, then fight over his monster cores."

Unfortunately, the hulking warrior proved surprisingly persuasive. After a few glances, all four turned toward Kai.

What followed was an onslaught unlike anything he'd faced before. He constantly needed to retreat from bursts of flame that scorched his skin. Vines exploded from the ground to bind him at every opportunity. Worst was the hammer-wielding warrior, who was slow but deliberate. When he managed to land a blow on Kai's side, he was pretty sure that several of his ribs turned to splinters.

Fhazi was the easiest to deal with, since his charges were the most reckless. Kai managed to grab him at one point and throw him into the vine-user, which earned him a few moments of relief. But even Fhazi could hurt him if he landed a blow.

His vision was swimming too much to see any of the symbols, but he knew they had all begun to develop their Classes. In just a few days, they had already acquired this much power. Even if he had been at full strength, even if he had a weapon, even if...

Kai staggered back. Bloody, scorched, bruised, aching. He refused to fall and stared out at the four of them through bleeding eyes.

"This is senseless," the largest warrior said. "You cannot hope to beat us. Surrender before you are permanently injured."

"That's what you think." Kai raised his fists and smirked. "You haven't seen what I can do. As soon as I get a hold of even one of you, there will only be three left. Then two. Then one."

"He's completely mad," the vine-user told her partner. "Just put him out of his misery."

"Stop hiding behind those vines! Come and face me directly!"

"This is senseless," the warrior repeated, shaking his head slowly. "You cannot think you can win. Why are you still fighting?"

All Kai did was smile. He wavered on his feet, but he stayed up. The sun was hot, so hot. It had to be soon... abruptly the warrior realized and looked upward to check the sun.

Too late. The bell finally rang to mark noon, and the Hunter Trials officially ended.

Kai managed to stay on his feet until the judges started to emerge from portals, then he collapsed.