Scene 3 - Seven Poison Islands

“Tch. The 947th time I’ve been shot down. Ah~ When will I ever find a girlfriend?”

Rune backed away slowly as Scorpio started staring into the distance as if coming across some profound meaning. Quickly though he returned from his thoughts and turned back to Rune with a sign and stated factly, “Oh well it was worth a try, your luck is pretty good though in getting this challenge with your type of element you will have a ‘chance’ to pass it, newbie.

Before we begin I have to go snatch up forty-nine others so I suggest you get some training in and attune yourself to the area, consider it your good fortune to be caught first. Well, for now, I bid you adieu Rune and wish you luck in passing this trial.”

Rune listened closely with shock followed by agitation, ‘He asked 946th times before and asked me to be his girlfriend? Does he have a screw loose? When I’m stronger I’m going to give him a beating for all those girls that came before me. Wait… how did he know my name was Rune? We never mentioned that to him!’

Watching him phase out Rune asked frantically, “Wait how do you know my name!”

Smiling Scorpio laughed not giving her an answer faded away making Rune gash her teeth in anger before turning away with resentment. With nothing else to do Rune took his advice and started to explore the area.

A sun was blazing in the sky showing the surrounding area, herbs and trees grew in all directions, Rune noticed that she stood on a small mountain cleared of vegetation. The air was warmer than the dungeon and it carried an odd scent of fruit and salt.

The earth beneath her feet was oddly a whitish color instead of the brown color she was used to seeing surprised her. Besides that, another curious thing was that at a hundred meters out stood a huge fog wall thick enough to block her site outwards.

For now, she knew she was stuck here thanks to the magical fog barrier that gave off a compelling force that made sure nothing came in or out. Getting adjusted to her surroundings and seeing nothing dangerous she decided to sit on a large tree branch and gather the high-quality poison mana into her dantian.

Time passed by while Rune sat in the tree contestants entered ranging from singles to pairs only one group of three entered together. The number had filled up to forty-nine within a few hours and despite being in one place none of them decided to fight each other thanks to the spell in the area restricting them from doing so.

One weird thing to take note of was that no one was talking, instead, everyone was glaring at each other like pieces of meat just waiting to be plucked and eaten. The time in the Labyrinth had made their hearts turn cold with only themselves or in the rare instance another strong person to rely on.

Some of them had been in groups and forced to kill their partners when they were betrayed, others did the betraying and took everything for themselves. Although there was the rare case of Rune and her siblings that could count on one another. Most of the contestants here in the Labyrinth abandoned their compassion in order to reach for the chance to become immortal!

The path of the immortality wasn’t for the kind-hearted, to become immortal such ideals were wishful thinking. Cultivation was a path full of hardships. Cultivators used the bodies and blood of those that stood in their way to walk upon the road to becoming immortal. They would defy the heavens will to not die a mortal and struggle with all their might.

Rune really didn’t care about those below here staring daggers at each other and kept on cultivating, if she had the choice though she would rob them all of their points and walk away happily. She only started paying attention when there were forty-nine people in the room she was hoping to get this test started faster. Soon enough a weak looking boy with black hair appeared filling the fiftyith slot.

Out of all the contestants here he looked the weakest out of everyone; his slightly hunched back, large rimmed glasses, and his passive face. Everyone stared at this prey in hunger wishing to eat this little lamb that walked into a pack of wolves.

Looking at the boy in bewilderment Rune raised an eyebrow, ‘Hmmm someone that could last this long in the Labyrinth shouldn’t be so weak. Is he hiding his strength? No matter if he is I’ll crush him if he tries anything. Now… ‘that’ person should show up soon.’

As she expected Scorpio soon appeared floating in the sky riding on a giant scorpion with a smile on his face. Everyone stopped looking at the lamb with hungry eyes and instead gazed up at the Boss staring down at them.

With his arms wide Scorpio gave off a warm atmosphere that made Rune sick to her stomach, “Greetings newbies!~ Welcome to my test! Now I will explain the rules to the test! It’s really simple to pass, there are seven Islands and to clear the game you must reach the last island and touch the pillar for thirty minutes without stopping!

But there is a catch the number of people that can cross each island will be reduced by seven meaning that only eight can pass this test! Another thing to know is that when the time is active every three hours an island will sink meaning you only have 21 hours clear the test!

To make things interesting you will all start in different places on the first island and won’t be able to attack each other for one hour. The fastest people will win although you could hunt your fellow contestants for points I won’t stop you for that matter.

The last things to mention are to move onto the next island you must cross the ‘bridge.’ Lastly, remember that you only able to move for eight hours actively a day before the ‘beasts’ come out to play so I suggest you head to a safe area then.”

One of the confused contestants raised her hand and asked, “What do you mean by active hours?’

“By active hours I mean you can only travel safely along the ground for eight safe hours. In actual fact, you will spend 72 hours here. Sixteen of those hours will most likely be spent in a ‘safe zone’ and trust me you don’t want to leave those areas if you're not confident in your ability. And don’t worry about the time if you look up in the sky you can see it. Now with all the information all out of the way let’s begin!”