//** Continuation of chapter 22. (From 22.1) **//

-mortal I have seen your path and know why you came here…

After teleporting out from the cathedral Arata was welcomed with those words. They come right from before him but he didn’t see the one that spoke them. In fact he couldn’t even open his eyes right now as should he try he would only see blinding light. Still, the voice of a man as Arata recognized was the first part of so called 100th level barrier.

“Please don’t tell me that it’s another one of those destiny talks.”

Arata prepared himself for another long lecture about nothing as this was somewhat similar to his experience at end of city of beginners but none of that happen.

-yes, I know why you come here and you know why you come here, there is no need to delay anything. Your trial will begin now.

With his closed eyes, Arata could feel that in second that the voice stopped the light before him also disappeared. Arata finally opened his eyes and this time he could see what was around him.

Gerald said that it was going to be an arena but it didn’t look like that to Arata at all. The place he was in was rather some ruins. Sure there was a lot of space around him but destroyed pillars that were lying on the ground up to some destroyed construction. There was nothing that would look like a seat for spectators. Everything was in dark obsidian color which wouldn’t be appealing to potential guests. In the first place the whole place was in some large cave, there was no sky to see. The only source of light was at the top of the cave. It was a strong light coming from large azure crystal.

There were three gates in the northern part of construction. They were no doors but metal bars, so Arata could see what was behind them, although what was behind them was only darkness. Gates also had different size. The biggest one was on the left and it was four meters high, the one on the right was three meters high and the smallest one was right in the middle no more than two meters high. Arata expected that monsters will be coming that way any moment. It wasn’t really hard to guess out that.

The metal bars on the right gate lifted up and the moment it happened Arata got the message.

[Are you satisfied with this world? Are you satisfied with the rules bonds it? Or do you want to see more, experience more, and see what you could not so far. If yes, know that you came to the right place but if no then you can still go back. What lay after this point is different from what you think, some things will change some will stay the same and some things you will change on your own and it will only depend on you if those will be good changes or bad changes that you won’t be able to live with. Knowing all this, do you still decide to follow that path?]

[Yes/No]

-yes.

Arata without much thinking chose yes. He would not think much about it. He already wanted to start the challenge.

[Are you sure?]

“This is annoying.”

-yes I am sure, can we get started.

[Your decisions are your own and it will depend on you if you regret in in the future.]

With this being done another message appeared.

[Trial of adventurer.

Stage one

Land of fighters is not a place for just anyone. If you want to go there, proof that you didn’t come here by chance and you are ready. Proof that the adventure that you had so far brought the fruit and were not for nothing. Fight the creatures from the land you explored. There are twenty waves of enemies, you have either destroy them all or survive 30 minutes after the last wave come.

Requirement: Defeat incoming enemies

Failure: Death.

Reward: Passage to the land of fighters.]

“I wonder what will come. Even Gerald said that it is hard. Also its twenty waves, it may not be that easy after all.”

Arata prepared himself for impossible fight.

[Wave one: 5x bunnies]

The first step for once unbeatable challenge was five bunnies.

“Wait what!”

Arata could not believe the message but from darkness in right gate five white bunnies came out.

-…

What type of monster you get at each wave, depended on your luck. Wave one’s monsters were from level 1 to 10. Wave two 11 to 20 and so on to ninth wave which was 81-90. From then there would be a wave 91 level, 92, 93 up to 100. The last wave was boss class monster made for one player. There was one boss like that that Arata already met. At that time Arata ended up with halberd going right through his belly.

Each wave would come one minute after another. This part was the one that kept players from passing the challenge. Fighting numerous of monsters was not something that anyone could do right away. Still with time anyone who trained enough would pass it. It was made for normal people who already understood the game and it’s fighting system. They would have hard time especially with last wave of solo boss. It was hard for normal players but for players like Arata who would fight in unbelievable circumstances for most of the time, it wasn’t something too hard. For people like him the second part was made.

Arata was just standing there not really knowing what to do. Five bunnies were jumping around him. Even if they were labeled as monsters they didn’t have a way to attack.

“It has to be done one.”

Without much choice Arata started to catch one after another and in seconds he turned bunnies into ingredients for his next meal. Still even if it only took him a second the next wave came right after he finished.

[Wave two: 5x Kobold miner]

Once again Arata spotted familiar figures. Those weren’t the mutated kobolds that he fought during his Guild exam. As he remembered they were little lower than 30 level. The kobolds that came out were the small ones with the candles on their head and pickaxes in hands.

-you will not take the candle!!!

While jumping from one leg to another Arata quickly slashed them down. He felt different today, he felt light and stronger than before. It was probably because of new items which gave his avatar body new stats. With high upgrade in their quality Arata feel tell the difference. Still.

“Give me something better!”

With no enemies to fight he could not test really it out.

[Wave 3: 6x Blood boars]

“Common!”

His prays were not answered and he didn’t get anything too good. Well, those weren’t the boars that Arata once saw near Loris. The ones that came out were bigger and red in color with black fur at the top. Their pupils were red in blood and the moment they come out, they charged at Arata. Arata moved out of the way of their way and slashed them with sword as they moved right next to him. One strike was all that he needed.

[Wave 4: 4x Rodler’s bandit]

Four men have appeared. They were all wearing brown clothes, with swords and daggers in their hands.

“I guess its starts now.”

Arata was ready for some action and rushed at them. Those were the first enemies that didn’t look funny in this challenge but still.

-aaaa!

-waa!

-haaa!

They could keep up with Arata sword at all and died one by one. The last one in crazy raid managed to slash his sword at Arata but when Arata tried to block it.

-wraaa!

“Aaaa, it happened again.”

Arata’s sword cut through bandit’s sword like butter and went right through him.

“Where are good enemies?”

Arata had enough of this play and he wanted something more serious but it was still low level.

[Wave 5, 3x Novice Goblin]

Three little green creatures entered through right gate.

“Ah, I don’t care anymore, when does it end?”

Those three also fall quite quickly.

[Wave 6, 4x Wolves]

“O.”

Once again, something familiar to Arata appeared. He once had a hard time going against those wolves. Still it was only in first fight as he leveled up they started to die way quicker and now with level 99.

First wolf jumped at him, Arata slashed horizontally and slashed him in half. Second was jumping from the left side, Arata with left sword thrusted into him and he died as well. The body of second wolf was thrown at the third one and third one tripped on the ground. Arata run up to him and in the meantime slashed another one that was coming at him from left. Before third one stand up him was already killed.

“Fighting the same enemies I finally feel that I got better with leveling up.”

Another wave came soon after.

[Wave 7: 5x Gnoll marauder.]

Other strange creatures appeared. Height of dwarf, body color of brown with horrible looking faces. They were wearing some armor and held a bone cub as their weapons. They were running at Arata while holding it high.

Arata jumped up over the first one, while doing it he slashed from it above. After he landed, he had two of them at the front. Before they even swing their weapons, Arata thurst his swords forward and killed them off in one attack. One gnoll managed to swing his cub but Arata easily dodged it and finished him off and other gnoll with one slash of his sword.

“Still nothing…”

[Wave 8: 8x Militia soldier]

“Did they start coming faster?”

Each wave came after 1 minute each. It was not that it speeded up but Arata was taking more time to deal with each. Still he was on time as nothing so far survived one blow.

Militia soldiers as grand as it may sounds their equipment was nothing of that sort. They didn’t wear anything that could be called armor and their weapons were either wooden pikes which were sharpened on the end or wooden pikes with knife attached to it at the end. Although that attachment wouldn’t probably survive, a single attack.

“Now they are coming with numbers?”

In stage one of trial of adventurer except for wave 20, number of enemies could go from 1 to 10 which was the luck element to the challenge. If you get a lot of enemies on say 19 wave, it can be bad as boss will be coming out in wave 20. Fighting both the boss class monster and leftovers from previous wave was something that one wanted to avoid at all costs.

“No time to waste then.”

Arata decided that it’s better to fight near the gate from where monsters were coming from. He rushed forward.

Seeing it militia created defense formation where they stick out their spikes out and gathered in one place. It was impossible to get to them that easily and Arata would have to destroy their weapons first should he want to get closer to them without injury.

[Black Dash]

Or he could kill them all with one AOE skill as they stick to each other too much.

“I have stamina to spare and it’s better if its start regain already rather than doing something troublesome.”

[Wave 9: 7x Polar bears]

“The number of them starts to skyrocket.”

Polar bears were also something that Arata once fought even if on lower level. Those were from range of 81-90 and there were a lot of them.

“Hope they are not as strong at that bear.”

Should Arata get 7 forest bears he would change his tactic to survive 30 minutes after the last wave rather than fight them. Fortunately for him this challenge was not impossible.

Even if there were seven of them, they couldn’t attack Arata at once. Bears also were not that fast. Arata got to first one, instead of attacking from the front he continued and slashed from the side with his left red sword.

-whraaaa!

After roar of the beast, Arata quickly combined his first strike with a second one as he saw that the bear didn’t die with the single one.

“So it begins.”

Other bear jumped at him seeing his other bear die. Arata moved out from way of the attack. He was going to thurst his sword into that bear right away but he saw another one charging at him from the right. Arata jump up and landed on the bear while thrusting his sword into him. After few more steps of charge that bear died. Arata jump down from him and was getting ready for next ones. He came close to back of another dodged a strike from his back paw and slashed horizontally with both swords.

[Wave 10: 5x Eagles]

“Already?”

Arata wasted some time while riding a bear for fun but that was just ten or twenty seconds. He still had 4 bears to deal with and there already were new enemies and flying ones at that.

“I have to stop plying around.”

Arata run to another bear and finished him of. Then eagles appeared in the sky and started to circle around him.

Another bear come charging at him but this time Arata didn’t play around and take him head one. Sword slashed with bear’s teeth and second later there was one bear less.

An eagle come down from the sky and attacked Arata’s head, Arata moved quickly out of his way but when eagle missed, he right away went up to the sky.

“And how I am supposed to deal with them?”

While Arata was looking at the sky one of two remaining bears came at him. But Arata was paying attention. He thurst his sword in a way that it closed bear’s mouth and bring him to the ground then slashed horizontally with black sword and finished him off. Another Eagle came from the sky attacking with his claw right at Arata’s head. Seeing it Arata slashed at him with his sword but eagle easily avoided it and fly up to the sky once more.

“Those birds are annoying.”

[Wave 11: 7x Young Panther]

“I still didn’t get any of the flying ones.”

Arata already had some bears and number of enemies once again increased by a lot.

At first only yellow eyes appeared in the darkness but then black panthers started coming out.

“Let’s ignore birds for now.”

The last bear attacked him from the right. Arata turned to him a block his attack with one sword and countered with other. But after taking a hit bear didn’t stop and attacked at Arata. He first slashed out the paw that came at him then the bear’s head.

Then an eagle came from the sky and crushed into Arata’s head. It didn’t do much to him but it was the first hit he got. Arata wasn’t stop by it and tried to slash at the bird but the bird just went back to the sky.

“This is…”

-wraa…

A panther jumped at Arata from the left. Arata didn’t saw it in time and landed on the ground. For a second Arata, had to hold his sword and defend from her jaw but then he kick the panther up from the ground and it fly up by about two meters. Before other panthers came Arata got quickly back on feet and.

[Leap]

He jumped up after the panther and in the air he slashed her head of landed at rest of her body and.

[Leap]

Arata went into the skies and there he managed to slash one eagle when as eagle did expect a sudden attack. Arata was now falling down from five meters and in the place he was going to land or rather crush there were already were few panthers waiting. But he didn’t crush.

[Black dash]

Right before landing he activated his ability. Arata landed safely while at the same time killing three panthers. There were three of them left now.

[Wave 12: 5x Trained Militia Soldiers]

-one, two, one, two, one, two!

Arata could hear the shouts that were coming out from the darkness but he had something else to deal with first. Three panthers circled around him, the moment Arata moved to one panther this one walked back while other two attacked him from the back. But even if panthers had a lot of speed, Arata was faster. Arata run towards first panther. When this one found out that it can’t run it decided to attack but Arata thrusted forward with his sword before she could do it.

-attack!

Five militia soldiers started running in his way. The difference between this one and previous is that three of them had some mail armor and other two swords and lids of pots instead of pointed sticks.

Arata finished of panther and prepared for another two that were coming his way. They were both coming from his front now so Arata prepared to parry their attack. Well, his parry especially with black sword Kuroi would rather be an attack. Panthers didn’t fall for that and meter away from Arata they first jumped to the left and right and from that position attacked. Arata moved back a little and their idea didn’t work. When panthers were back together, he moved forward and attacked both of them twice while passing between them.

Arata dodged two eagles that came at him. After dodging he slashed at them but again missed and they fly back to the sky.

A thurst of pointed stick with a knife at the end of it came at Arata’s head. Arata parried it with his black sword destroying the opponent weapon in the process but he didn’t have time to follow up and finish him off as other militian attacked him with sword from the right.

[Wave 13: 6x Orc Peons]

Arata didn’t have time to be excited about the fact that he will finally met some orcs in this game as he had too many things on his mind right now. He dodged incoming sword and slashed the militian that attack him with one blow from the ground up to his head. Then with black sword Arata attacked other which tried to block with his ‘shield’ but lids of pots didn’t work, after all even normal shields would be destroyed upon meeting Arata’s sword. The militian died and there were two more of them. Without stopping Arata went straight at two before them. Their morale was not big and they didn’t shout anymore. Arata went after their heads and slashed them off.

“Now where is the last one?”

Arata looked around to see the last militian whose weapon should be already destroyed. The last militian was about four meters away from him. He was running in fear to the opposite end of the construction.

“I will deal with him later.”

An eagle came down from the sky and once again Arata tried to hit it but once again he missed.

“Dammit.”

Arata could simply not deal with them.

Orc Peons were already out. Those green skin creatures were in height of Arata. Although their arm muscles were quite big they didn’t look like fighting experts. In fact they had pick axes and normal axes in hands but those weapons could only serve in mines or lumber mills.

First orc charged forward with his pick axe. Arata easily dodged it and slashed from the left cutting of Peon’s arm.

-wraaa.

Orc yelled but that didn’t stop him and with healthy hand swing once more but Arata quickly finished him off.

-never to be warrior.

With those words the first Orc Peon landed on the ground. Other peons weren’t so eager to fight and were still standing away.

“This guy at least had some ambitions.”

Arata looked at first orc that he slay in this game then moved for other one.

[Wave 14: 2x Young tiger]

The next wave had a smallest amount of enemies so far and that was giving a lot of time for Arata to clean everything up.

Orc peons were standing in a line with their weapon ready, although they were not ready for Arata. Arata made somersault over them and slashed them from above like from time to time he liked to do. Two orcs died immediately. When other turned around, Arata was already on the ground and attack two on the left. They also tried to attack with their axes but Arata easily found a gap in that attack and while going between them landed a strikes. Another two orcs died.

Arata was going to finish other two but he spotted the tigers coming at him with great speed. He didn’t want to end up on the ground again so he focused on them.

“Lazy orcs that didn’t even want to fight can wait.”

Arata slashed at incoming tiger but his sword did not reach him as tiger made quick move to the left and then jumped at Arata with claws. Arata spin on foot to avoid and counter but his sword still did not reach the fast tiger. Second tiger attacked him from behind to which Arata moved to the right and attacked from there. But tiger still dodged it. Now both of the tigers were running and circling around him.

“Need to change tactic.”

With fast movements Arata went after them. He run up to one never slowing down and slashed horizontally. Tiger went down and avoided it then right away, he then wanted to jump at where Arata attacked from but Arata never stop moving and he was no longer there. He was about two meters away from the tiger and with straight line went forward. Tiger moved out of the way but Arata didn’t stop just changed his direction a little. There he got the other tiger which didn’t expect a thing. When he recognized that Arata was coming at him, it was already too late. He tried to move out of the way but Arata still reached him with his sword injuring the back leg, and with that he quickly followed up to finish him off.

The other tiger lost his calm and attacked desperately but doing so was the worst thing he could do and he ended up on Arata’s swords.

“Now back to Orcs.”

Arata looked for two remaining peons. They however showed a great intelligence and following the last surviving militian ran away. The peons and last surviving militian group up and now all three of them were trying to get up to the tribunes of arena.

“I should finish them off now that I have time.”

Arata started to move in their direction but when he did that two eagles come from the sky that was what Arata saw but in fact there were three of them. After dodging two of them and without success attacking them the third one managed to bit his claw into Arata’s shoulders or so it looked like that. The eagle’s claws didn’t penetrate through Arata’s coat. Arata without looking thrusted his black sword into the place of the eagle and slashed him down.

“One less bird to worry about. Now…”

[Wave 15: 3x Militia Archers]

Arata started to run back to the gate from where militia archers started coming out. After the run with the tigers he was some distance away from them.

While Arata was running, three arrows came his way but their speed was pathetic same with their aim. All of militia’s weapons were really disappointing, this time it was more of a stick with a string attached to it rather than a bow, still the militia could somehow fire from it so maybe it meant that they were extremely skilled. Still, before those archers managed to take out another arrow Arata already got them. Their heads fell down to the ground before their bodies did. Arata finally catch up and got a second to rest but he didn’t plan on doing that as he came up with idea.

“Chances are not high but it might work.”

He picked up one ‘bow’ from militia’s archer body. Then he picked up an arrow.

“I going to fire down those guys and eat them during the break.”

Arata once said that he can more or less use every weapon as his grandfather thought him that.

‘pinpin’

When Arata tried to pull a string the bow got destroyed.

“One more”

He picked other bow this time it was going nicely. He aimed at the eagle in the air and released the string. Unfortunately the arrow didn’t fly up to the sky. In truth it didn’t even pass the wooden part of the bow but just fall down to the ground. Still, it was not the fault of the bow even if was of poorest quality.

“As I thought. I can’t fire the bow just like that.”

The truth was that Arata never actually trained archery and miracle would not happen. It would be hard for experienced archer to hit that eagle in the sky, Arata had no chance. Still Arata tried it just because he wanted to get rid of those annoying birds.

[Wave 16: 5x Skeleton Soldiers]

“Skeletons?”

Arata quickly reacted to the word Skelton. Those were the creatures of only bones. They were remains of the bodies resurrected with black magic.

From the dark corners behind the gate the white bone hands started to appear from the ground. Then full bodies of skeletons came out. Before they started their rush however, they stopped near the holes from where they come out from and looked for something inside it. Soon enough, they took out their weapons from there, mostly swords and war axes. One of skeletons tried to take out the shield as well but when he did that, his arm that tried to support it fall down.

-hahaha.

Arata even laugh a little at that scene as it looked comedic, especially when after that skeleton throw away his weapon and pick up his hand from the ground and started to wield it. Still Arata could no longer laugh as he saw when they started to run at him. They were quite fast.

“Can I keep up with them?”

They were at least as fast as tigers that appeared previously but they were moving at two feet. Arata also started to run at them. His worry left him because even if the skeletons looked faster than him to him, it was no longer the case as Arata got new equipment. He still did not test it enough.

First skeleton with large two handed axe, attacked downward from over the head. Arata planned to kill him before the swing but skeleton started way too early. Arata dodged to the left and axe landed next to him at the right. From that direction, another skeleton came. He jumped over the axe and then thrust his sword at Arata. Arata parried it out destroying sword in the process but when he went for the counter, the skeleton was no longer there. Then two skeletons came from the right.

When Arata tried to attack them, they went separate way and attacked from both sides at once. Arata moved back and both of their weapons sword and axe hit each other in a place where his head was just a second ago. With corner of his eye, Arata once again saw incoming axe at him. Arata dodged it by thin hair and without delay he attacked the axe wilder but this one let go of his axe and get back quickly.

“They are quite good but now that most of them don’t have…”

‘puk’

Arata got hit in the back of the head. What hit him was a skeleton hand but it was not attached to the skeleton. One of the skeletons threw it at him. Arata looked ominously at him. The skeleton on the other hand was practicing some kind of dance jumping from one leg to another with only one hand held high.

-you are dead.

Arata got angry a little but then.

‘puk’

Arata got hit at the back of the head with other skeleton hand. Seeing that one of them succeed, the other skeletons tried the same. And now instead of little, Arata got really angry. He started running after them right away. The skeletons started running around like it was some game of tag. Still Arata had no time for it as.

[Wave 17: 4x Goblin bombmasta]

Arata however didn’t care about new ones too much as he really wanted to get those skeletons.

Finally he managed to get one of them. After quick run and a jump Arata managed to catch its leg. Skeleton fall to the ground and his bones scattered into pieces.

“Four left.”

Arata run back to other skeletons and attacked the right away. There was no more playing around. When skeleton with two handed axe attacked, Arata parried it and knock it up. Skeleton lost balance and was an easy target. Without mercy and without holding back Arata at max strength slashed at him with both sword and skeleton was in pieces right away. There were three skeletons left and they also once again started to come at him. Arata run to the one without the weapon and simply destroyed him.

[Stream of night.]

“Now I am feeling much better.”

It might have been an over kill but it had to be done.

“Two left.”

The mentioned two were really close. They still had their weapons. Arata decided on similar tactic to which he used against axe users. Even if he was a little faster than them he didn’t want to go into speed contest again.

Arata blocked both of the weapons and pushed just like before, skeletons lost their balance. Arata was about to finish them off but then right in the middle of them a new creature appeared. Arata saw it just now.

“I have forgotten about them.”

Just when he thought that, Arata quickly understood that it was not best idea. For his luck, goblin bombmasta’s best attack was suicidal act of blowing himself up right before the opponent.

‘Boom’

In the middle of Arata’s and skeleton fight a moving bomb exploded. Arata’s body was send flying by three meters then crushed into the ground. Skeletons that stayed next to him were destroyed as well.

“Aua.”

Surprisingly Arata didn’t take too much physical damage from it, his health bar went down only by 30%. Arata’s new gear had some defensive power that would withstand an attack from still low level creature or maybe not that low as wave 17 had monsters from 98th level, which was just one level below Arata.

An eagle come down from the sky and tried to attack at Arata’s face thinking that he is unconscious as so far he didn’t try to move. But when he moved closed enough body of Arata started to move and it he thurst his sword right into the eagle.

“Got you, bastard.”

Seeing this, the other two eagles went back to the sky afraid of their life.

[Wave 18: 7x Mage’s apprentice]

“At least this won’t have any surprises.”

Arata was thinking while still lying on the ground but he relaxed himself a little too much. Other goblin bombmasta jumped at him out of nowhere. He catch Arata’s arms and was going to explode right over him before he did that however Arata managed to kick him with leg and send him flying to the right. About two meter away from him moving bomb once again exploded. Arata rolled on the ground from the force but this time he stand up right away. Arata saw other two goblins but he didn’t want to test if they also explode upon killing. He started running to their direction.

[Black dash]

Arata went through them and then started to move in direction of mages. Two goblins exploded behind him.

Mage’s apprentices were equipped with wooden staffs and purple robe. They spread out and started casting spells at Arata. There were fireballs and ice lance. Even though Arata could counter it with his sword enchanter skills, he avoided the attack and circled around slowly getting closer to them.

He reached the first one. The apprentice panicked and tried to block attack with his stuff but it was easy to predict how it will end. He died in one blow. Arata dodged another series of magic balls and did the same with other apprentice.

[Wave 19: 10x Young orcs]

-wraaaa!

-kill them all!

-for the Horde!

From the darkness ten big green orcs ran out from. This one was much more impressing then the peons. They had large war axes that normal human wouldn’t be able to pick up.

“That what I expected from the orcs.”

Even though description said that they were young, they were more than battle capable. Arata went to finish another apprentice before their reinforcements get there.

[Sword enchant: fire]

Arata cut through incoming fireball and without delay get to the mage who died in the second. Their specialty wasn’t close combat and staying on the front line.

“From now it will be harder as they will have meat shield of ten orcs.”

Arata got a little unlucky getting 10 at last monster wave. Although what he saw was outside of his calculation.

The orcs killed all remaining apprentices and then started to argue about their heads because they wanted them as the trophy trophies. Two of them even started to fight each other. There were four of them that started to walk in Arata’s direction though.

-what did you say!? This one mine!

-no mine!

-you want me to cut off your head Wiggy?!...

With single look one of the orcs managed to scary away the others. It looked like he was wanted to fight alone.

-you are just a human, but good at killing other humans, you are worthy of my axe.

-but you are not worthy of my sword.

Arata role played a little but it he had a reason for it.

-wraa.

The orc charged at him holding his two handed axe high.

“Nothing is easier than when opponent attack you blindly.”

When orc swing his axe at him downward Arata easily dodged it to the right and quickly attacked from there. The orc moved his hand and blocked Arata’s blow. He had a metal gullet on the hand that could stop the blade. Arata followed it up another strike but which hit at Orc shoulder drawing blood but then the axe came horizontally at him and Arata had to back out from its range.

[Last wave:

Soldier of the Taros and member of its legendary unit ‘Husaria’.

[Trial of adventure, stage one

Defeat the remaining forces or survive next 30 minutes.]

Arata could hear some strange sound then from the darkness a rider on brown horse appeared. He held a long lance that he had pointed forward in the other hand he held a red shield with white eagle in the center of it. That was probably his or his battalion mark. What was imposing though was his armor. The rider was wearing grey-dark plate armor up from the boots to his helmet. But at his back there were two pair of metallic wings. They were short but went up over rider’s head by about 40 centimeters. Both of the wings were bouncing from each other making a sound that signaled death.

When orcs looked at that figure they scattered around and started to run away.

“This one will be hard still I need to finish this one.”

Even the orc before him didn’t know what to do and stayed dumb fouled. Arata wanted to use it to his advantage and attacked but the orc quickly parried it out with his axe.

-brothers there is only one! Think of glory that you can get here!

The orc before Arata shouted which put Arata out of the rhythm but he was back on it.

When Arata crossed his sword with the orc’s axe, he saw a pleasant surprise or was it that pleasant for him? The rider instead of going for Arata was riding with his horse at the remaining orcs. Nine out of the ten except the one that Arata fought with started to charge at him. What Arata saw was a true massacre. The orcs were dying under the hooves of the horse or lance of its rider. The sight was helpful for Arata as he wouldn’t have to deal with them himself but after business with orcs he would had to deal with the rider.

Arata stopped the attack from the orc with both of his sword. He tried to push it away but he couldn’t do it and it turned into strength combat. Orc was pushing the axe down while Arata was keeping it up. Even if his avatar body was greatly boosted, Orc’s strength was no joke and Arata started to lose. Still he never intended to have a fair fight.

Arata kicked the orc in the belly with one of the moves that his grandfather thought him. Sure Arata’s dual sword style was the best but kick from him could do a lot as well. The orc rolled in half and his grip on the axe left off. Arata didn’t let go of this chance and landed three strikes at the orc’s body. Because, even after this he still looked alive, Arata made forth attack and slash of his head.

“That’s the best way to be sure, now should I take another one?”

Arata looked around but there was no orcs left. The rider already took care of them. On the arena grounds only Arata and the rider stayed alive. The remaining two eagles fly away upon hearing the sound of Rider’s metal wing and militian and two peons hided somewhere long ago and Arata had no idea where they went.

“So far nothing bad happened. Even if in times there were few bad coincidences I managed to finish 19 waves out of the twenty. As they said, the first part was not big challenge for me. But I am not so sure about this one.”

Arata looked as the rider was riding on his horse toward him. He was no longer in gallop but ride slowly.

“He doesn’t even consider me a treat. This could be a good chance. If I get him out of his horse it should be much easier.”

Arata didn’t know that getting a hussarian out of his horse was really hard thing to do but he saw no alternative. But right before Arata was going to use lighting speed and make first attack, the rider spoke.

-I am Kristian soldier of Taros, may I know your name.

“Those knights are all like that. Still I don’t want to be labeled as evil being again so I may as well answer. I hope it won’t cost me.”

-you can call me Arata and I am adventurer.

Adventurer, it was the easiest way to explain player status to NPCs. Hearing this, the rider said.

-I see, so this is the black Arena that seniors talked about. Then I know what I must do…

“Then it’s begins”

Arata once again prepared to lighting speed right into him but instead of attack he was met with another question.

-answer me this one truly. Should I not come would you defeat other orcs by yourself? I saw how you manage to take on the biggest one but would you manage if all others would charge at you, seeing how you slay one of them.

-if nothing unexpected happened then yes. Without many problems.

The rider took off his helmet and long brown hair landed on his shoulders. Then he said something really unexpected.

-I am satisfied with this answer and it’s not a foul one becaue one never knows what can happen on the battlefield. Then adventurer Arata, do you wish to fight against me?

“I don’t know understand where it’s going?”

-rather than wishing, I have to. After all this is my trial in which I have to defeat new enemies that come at me and you are one of them.

Arata answered.

-you fought against the orcs. They are enemies of mine and the kingdom of my origin. Since decades, my family and family of my friends fought against them and defended all human territories from their invasion. How can you be my enemy if you also fight against them? Everyone who is enemy of orcs is a friend of mine and the friend of all Tarossians.

-but aren’t you bound by some mystic powers of gods to fight against me here. It is why you were summoned here.

Mystic power of gods that Arata spoke about, were the programmed algorithms that should control him. But Kristian didn’t seem controlled at all.

-I know what you are talking about. This place the black arena is known to me. I often heard from my seniors that they are summoned here from time to time. Wave twenty of trial of adventurer, I am correct?

-yes you are. Anyway if you know what it is about, then why we don’t fight yet?

-after coming here I was given only one task. Test if the adventurer is ready to come to dangerous lands and if he is not, show him a difference. But I already know that you are ready, defeating an orc is not a small feat and I believed you when you said that you can defeat all others.

Knight Kristian explained.

-so we don’t have to fight?

-it’s only depends of you. Do you want to fight me or will you share a tale with me and wait for 30 minutes? That is the timing right?

“That is rather easy choice. I was going to take break before the part two so if I take it now there will be no difference. Also I don’t have to fight him.”

-without a purpose there is no need to fight. Get down from the horse and I will prepare something to eat.

Kristian jumped down from his horse. He walked toward Arata and gave a hand.

-once again, I am Kristian.

-and I am Arata.

What was going to become a bloody battle, changed into sharing a meal together. Kristian started with taking off the metallic wings from his armor. Arata asked.

-what do those wings do? I don’t think they are just a decoration.

-you never heard Taros and our famous Husaria unit?

-unfortunately I did not.

-then it will be my pleasure to tell you about it.

-can’t wait to hear it but first I need to come up with something that can keep up the fire or we will have to eat cold food.

-there is nothing worse than cold food. You said, something that you can create the fire with? In Taros everyone knows that there is nothing better for creating a campfire then axes of orcs that you ride over with your horse. There are only ten of them but they should be enough to keep fire until you finish.

-great idea, let’s gather them.

Kristian and Arata went around and gathered wood parts of orc’s axes. The metal part they simply cut off with their swords. Apart from the lance Kristian also had a long sword at his side so he didn’t need to borrow one from Arata.

With all axes gathered Arata started a fire and took out all necessary things he needed for the food. He was going to use rabbit’s meat that he got from first wave of monsters here. They still were quite fresh and Arata already made something with rabbit meat before. He didn’t want to test here any new recipes as he did no longer trust them fully. In a place like this and hard fights waiting for him, he shouldn’t take any chances.

-so, tell me about your homeland Kristian.

Arata asked his new friend about the lands that he came from, Kristian started. While speaking about his country his voice was always filled with pride. It was easy to see that he was proud of his origin.

-where should I start, let’s see. How well do you know geographic of human world?

-not much.

-and you call yourself an adventurer?

-well I never had a map in my hands.

“I also didn’t find any on the net.”

-then, do you at least know where city of light is? Probably not, I can tell from your face. I will make it short but this can be useful for you so listen. City of light is the biggest city of known world and it’s more or less is located in the middle of it, what is important that this city doesn’t belong to any of the kingdoms. Adventures like you who have no origin started to call it a capital but its true name is city of light.

-a place to visit then.

-as adventurer you are bound to go there one day. Anyway going from this city south east you will find the kingdom of Taros, which is my great homeland. Taros have several cities there but the biggest one and its capital is Haoren. It may not be as grand as city of light but it’s still majestic. Since anyone remember, soldiers of Taros fought against orcs and defended the peace in human realms, at least from orcs, other wars cannot always be stopped. As I previously said, since decades, my family and my country fought against the orcs in bloody battles. Even if we didn’t always win there was no time in history where orc’s army passed through Rodriar plateau.

-you have some great defenses there? Like castles and forts. Ground advantage counts in wars, I guess.

Arata expected it like this. He could picture how after lost battle soldiers would bunker in forts and create solid unbreakable defense but Kristian answered proudly.

-yes, we have ground advantage there, but not the one you just thought about. Rodriar plateau is completely flat but it’s flat terrains are what give us greatest advantage. The strongest unit of Taros is called Husaria. When we ride our horses with metallic wings at our backs no one will stand against us. You saw those orcs when I ride inside here. Even though they are usually fearless creature and great warriors when confronted with raider of Taros they will run in fear. Since they were young, orcs were always thought that fighting against us is meaningless.

-I saw how you deal with them so I can tell, still they could win should they come up with a plan and take you down from the horse somehow.

Kristian didn’t take it as offence and answered.

-I am quite good on the ground as well so I would deal with them somehow but what I wanted to express was what fear my unit brings to orcs. One rider of Taros would kill 3 times amount of orcs than a rider from any other kingdom.

-that’s quite impressive.

-if that was the only case then orcs wouldn’t fear us as they do. Might of Taros’ riders is not individual abilities of each riders. Our strength manifests when we ride all together. Imagine a water wave that’s destroying everything on its path, there is no place to run, no chance to defend.

-I wouldn’t want to stand anywhere near that.

-yes you wouldn’t.

-so flat terrain helps you as you can use your cavalry to the fullest.

-yes that’s the reason orcs never walked pass Rodriar plateau, still it’s also the reason why we will never deliver final blow against the orcs. Even if we can win on our blessed lands we can’t use our strength at lands of our enemies. You mentioned forts and castles. The border between us and the orcs is mostly a mountain terrain. There is only a one passage which connects us. In that place orcs have their fortifications. Even the strongest cavalry, cannot win that battle.

-did you try to find passage through the mountains?

-of course we did and we find few in fact. But I still see that you don’t understand how grand our wars are. You wouldn’t suggest that if you could imagine how many soldiers take part in it.

-It’s probably something that one has to see. Still if you can’t win with cavalry maybe you should focus on other military.

-now you underestimate the might of orcs and especially their numbers. There never was a battle where number of orcs was less than number of men on our front. The difference in numbers is usually at least five times more orcs than us, usually it’s ten times more. Only thanks to our Husaria units we can win those battles. In the past some thought that victories in those battles were a miracles, when we lose only 100 mans and orcs lose 10000 of their kind it’s not strange to think like that.

-well, I wouldn’t call it any other than miracle.

-the miracle is not a good word though, if miracle happens so often it’s can’t be called miracle anymore. There are many legendary battles over Rodriar plateau that’s how people call them but for us it’s just something that comes and goes like flooding of rivers or drought on fields.

“I guess they have to focus on the cavalry. Still in that case, they will endlessly fight in never ending war. If none of the sides can win, why can’t they make peace? Probably, because the other side is the orcs. I won’t even try to suggest him that.”

Times in what Arata live and medieval times in EOA were simply too different. Arata’s reasoning would not work here. Still, he didn’t feel right about fates of those people. To him this world was already real and if not that, it was at least very important place to him. War of NPCs wouldn’t bother him in normal games but here it was inhabitants of this world, dying every day.

-you can’t change your ways if it’s like that.

-glad you understand.

-even so you can’t train in different areas on your own, why not unite all human kingdoms and defeat orcs once for all. You could also ally with other races like dwarfs and elves, it should work.

It was a common theme in fantasy books that Arata once read but to his suggestion Kristian just made a small simile and answered.

-it won’t be possible. Other kingdoms don’t consider orcs a treat anymore. For them it’s just something way to the south, not in their fields of business. Your idea it, it had been tried few times in history but in the end nothing come out from it. We are on our own, even though we defend everyone…

“Pity.”

-let’s talk about something else shall we…

Kristian changed the subject.

-right now Taros is also famous for the second thing and it’s the beauty of our princess.

Till the end of the trial, Arata listened to Kristian as he talked about his country. He didn’t return to the orcs wars but it was still quite interesting. In the meantime they ate the rabbit that Arata prepared. For a second, Arata even forgot where he exactly is but he was reminded of it when the time has come.

[Trial of adventurer stage one complete.]

[Trial of adventurer, stage one.

You have passed your test. You can venture to the lands of fighters. But are you satisfied with this? Are you one of many or do you think you can become a hero and legend of this world. If you think you are there is a second part of test that you can take. Are your ambitions that high or you just go with a flow and don’t try to stand out? Think about it carefully the choice is yours.]

[Continue Yes/No]

-Arata it was nice to meet you but my dream ends here. If you ever find your way to Taros let us meet again. Look for Kristian from 108th Husaria division.

-when, I have a chance I will.

Kristian’s body started to blank and few moments later he completely disappeared. His horse was also not there anymore. Arata decided that when he had a time he will go to the place that he heard of. Not only to look around or talk with Kristian again but to look for a clue that would help resolve the problems of Taros. Why would he bother with it? Well it’s because when Arata first heard about never ending battle between orcs and soldiers of Taros his gaming soul was screaming, ‘there is an epic quest’ and where is an epic quest there is also epic item to get.

//** This chapter is still not over. Continue to part _22.3 **//

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