"Huh? So that's why that idiot hadn't come over yet. Well, whatever. Grant access"
The next moment Neel hurriedly entered inside, his face full of panic and confusion.
The moment Kiel left him all alone, Neel was stupefied. The light coming from the door also vanished leaving the kid in eerie darkness.
Left all alone filled his heart with a sudden chill. He was cool for a moment thinking Kiel will come back to get him with him, however even after waiting for a few minutes nothing happened. Instead, the longer he waited the more his heart palpitated. Ultimately he could not stop him anymore and ran to the gate ahead, stumbling on a few broken arrows in the process.
As he touched the door. it became alighted again. However, as he tried passing through the door like Kiel, nothing happened.
"Kiel you there?"
"..."
"Kiel don't trick me. I know you are there! Open up!" Neel tried to tap on the door to let Kiel know to get him too. However, there was no reply.
"..."
It was only a few seconds however, the restlessness in his heart only grew bigger as he tried to push the door with all his might. But to no avail. His eyes already seemed to be moist, forgetting the bravery and might he promised his father to gain. The promise to his mother clearly remained in his heart and he wondered if he lost the chance that his mother gave everything to get.
"Father!!"
Too engrossed in his heart, he even forgot when he passed through the gate and stumbled face down. It was not until Neel heard the notification did the restlessness in his heart go down.
Waking up and seeing the familiar face brought him the sense of relief that he very required.
"Huh? Are you crying?" Kiel was stunned by the dishevelled appearance of Neel.
Rubbing his moist eyes, he stuttered.
"D-dude for a moment I thought I was a goner. "
Neel didn't try to hide his emotions. So it was quite clear. However, when he relaxed down, the peace was yet broken by another familiar voice.
"What the? So you two decided to team up huh? "
As Neel looked up after calming down he could clearly see Astrid and Shade sitting at a distance. Luckily they could not see him clearly or he would have become quite embarrassed. Well, Kiel didn't matter. He was emotionless most of the times
It may be because he was too panicked and missed them. But now that he looked at them, he recalled the notification ring in his ears before.
"Well, times call"
Kiel shrugged off his shoulders at the question. It was just a coincidence for him to meet with Neel. What was the need to explain? However, Astrid's tone sounded rather unhappy.
"Well, unlike you slowpokes who took so long, we, on the other hand, have arrived here a long time ago."
Obviously, he didn't make himself sound humble with his tone.
"So you two also teamed up huh!" It was Neel this time who spoke up.
Astrid didn't speak up. He just grinned and looked at the other side.
Kiel noticed that the way Astrid spoke and the attitude of the girl behind him, he could easily deduce this much. It was more like he was showing off what Kiel missed by not joining his party. But did Kiel mind?
Kiel noticed that the girl too was quite from the beginning. He didn't see her speak in the test too. However, her haughty attitude already spoke enough for her. But he couldn't deny, the girl with shadow element was quite a surprise in itself.
'A princess syndrome?'
Kiel glanced at her for a moment then started exploring around to see what this room was about.
The so-called waiting room was a hexagonal space similar to the previous lucky spot. The interior was a very huge place. If measured in height, you could say that it was almost like a four-storeyed building tall. However, it was totally vacant with only solid walls in the six directions. A white colour painting the interior and the six huge gates on the six sides.
"Dude this place looks like a deep shit prison more right? And is there even an exit here? "
"Idiot you talk too much. Just wait for the time to end. And don't talk beside my ears!"
Neel followed behind Kiel as he too became in awe after seeing the huge space clearly. However, suddenly he froze in place.
"What happened? You look like you were just caught peeping!"
"Huh? Wait how does that comparison even work? Well, I can now see the other side of the wall from where we entered. And there was a similar notification too. Here look at it."
Neel showed him the badge as a similar screen showed up in front of him.
Looking at the screen Kiel was really intrigued. 'Huh? You can even show it to others… And transfer ownership…'
That is if he kept the ownership then for the remaining forty minutes he would get 40 survival points just for nothing?
'So I just gave away his free points which Astrid and the other girl got as freebies? Then did I interpret the intention of the guide as wrong?'
"Uh, man! I feel sorry for taking the points like this. They should have belonged to you… I-I can't even transfer the ownership back to you!"
Neel looked really apologetic. But Kiel was busy thinking about something else.
'Was this a test to check the integrity of the players? To test are the kids greedy? Or is it like if you kill the player you will get his points? But the guide didn't point in that direction at all.'
"Hmm? Wait!" Now that he thought, weren't their other gates too? Maybe he can get one for him...
Kiel walked to the gate he came from and touched it.
"System can you check the whose name is registered for the gate?"
[Acknowledged Host. Beep… Gate has a registered user Neel Holland]
'This one is registered as expected.'
Kiel then went onto other gates to see if they were available. However similar notification sounded in his ears.
[Beep… Gate has a registered user Shade Heath]
[Beep… Gate has a registered user Astrid Gardener]
[Beep… Gate has a registered user Astrid Gardener]
[Beep… Gate has a registered user Astrid Gardener]
Neel looked confused at what Kiel was doing. However seeing Kiel go from one door to another, someone else figured out his motive.
"Hmm, I see you figured out too about the freebies. But dude you are wasting your time. Gates can only be registered from the outside. Not from the inside."
Astrid said as he saw Kiel standing before the only unregistered door.
"Outside?"
"Yes. To put it simply, this entrance the last person to enter the gate is given the right to earn points or whether to let another person in."
"Hmm. it does make sense." Kiel also nodded as he finished testing the last gate. Kiel didn't think how he got this info. He could already guess it.
"But was it really necessary to make three entrances your?"
Kiel's question caused a visible stun on the other guy.
"How did you figure it out?" But it was only for an instance. Even if he figured it out, did it matter?
"Well, no one was here so I was bored for a long time. And I thought it would be much more interesting later on? Don't you think so?"
Seeing the cheeky grin in front of him, Kiel was even more sure how this guy did it. He should have used the space portal to go on the other side of the gate and registered them. It was the only way and only he could do it. Kiel even wondered if this was how he got his little comrade.
Neel sneakily threw a glance at Kiel and only to find him shaking his head. This Astrid guy must have earned a lot of points with 3 gates under him.
After getting the available information Kiel went to the door as they came from to settle down and took out something to eat.
Neel followed. After settling down Kiel looked at the graze from the arrow he got previously was already beginning to form a scar. He was quite satisfied with hos healing power. After all, that's why he had kept a partner with him.
"Do you want some?"
Taking out some chilly beast jerkies to chew on, Kiel seemed a little lost in thought.
"Hmm no. But dude shouldn't registering more than one gate be cheating? Just thinking about the freebies that guy got… "
After Neel got a taste of the free points, although he didn't know what use he had for them, he couldn't help but think how many points Astrid has managed…
"Hmm? So what? do you think fighting now will bring any benefits? Forget it. It's not worth it. And I don't think there will be no more opportunity to earn more points. And as it is, it seems that the floor intentionally kept a hidden piece here. And if he could find it that his ability. I don't care anything like that. And as they say, Fortune favours the lucky not the brave"
Neel was pretty sure that was not the real quote. But he still understood Kiel's stance. And he was talking. He was too not interested in other's gain.
"But what is more interesting is why did he leave two gates up for others? was it the guide or is this… interesting… I didn't think there would be intelligent ones in these kids. "
Kiel didn't need to tell what would happen of the ones who would come through the gates with about ⅚ probability of it happening. He even wondered how they got through the ⅓ odds? Was it because of the lucky dice he possessed?
Soon the atmosphere got really peaceful. The ones who had passed had nothing to worry about now. It was not like they would be at each other's throat at just a small grievance.
Kiel had closed his eyelids to get them some rest before the next trial, while slowly chewing on the jerkies to relax. The fatigue of the all-day tension was obviously taking a toll on his mind.
'I wonder should I take a nap for the time being and let the kid wake me up later?'
There was still more than half an hour remaining until the time limit. And taking a nap was the best way to alleviate himself of mental stress while he was in the safe zone. He knew it still wasn't the best time, but while sitting with his knees close to his face he closed his eyes to relax, soon dozing off.
"I can't tell whether he is smart or stupid"
Seeing Kiel's head droop on his knees, a wry smile broke on Astrid's face. He was pretty sure that this kid was different somehow. But he still couldn't tell how.
He was from a well-renowned family and had met a lot of people until now. His arrogance was not due to his background only. It was also because of his confidence in his skills. Observation about others included in them.
"Let him be. Who knows what will be the next trail. We have to save as much energy as possible. Don't go on starring fights. Remember we only joined a temporary allegiance. I don't help you if you start meaningless fights"
"Hmm, I know. Don't think I am stupid. That kid just gives me a mysterious vibe. I can't even sense any mana from him. So I wanted to team up to- you know… But I guess you are right Shade. But damn what's with so much wait. I am freaking bored right now. When is the next trail gonna begin?"
Astrid and Shade grumbled as they rechecked the time for the mission. It looked like they had known each other before too. If Kiel was awake he would be surprised to see so many people know each other.
"I am so bored. I hope someone comes up pretty fast. And where is that Leon guy? He seemed pretty strong too."
"Whatever. They will show up eventually. Not all the coloured cards are here yet. And when they come hehe?"
"Who? The Yebon girl? Didn't you say she is already dead?"
"Huh? Not that dumb girl. She had some ability, but she couldn't use it properly. I thought she would be a little better though."
Astrid shrugged off his shoulders.
"Hmm, you are right. What a waste though. Psychic element is a unique grade element like our element. But still, there is another one right?"
"Oh, you mean that arrogant bitch Aida?"
Hearing his odd gestures, Shade couldn't help but facepalm. What was this nicknames all about. But she too found that girl quite arrogant. Who asked her to seal the entrance in the front place without the ability to take it down? She had to use a lot of energy to escape because of that.
"Well, I should take a nap too like that guy there…" Astrid said as he saw the kid that gave him weird vibes sleep in without any worry.