Hu Zhao: "Welcome to all the remaining participants and let the second trial, The void tunnel, start".
The groups who came from the spatial gate didn't understand what Hu Zhao meant as they weren't here before but he didn't care to explain again as he waited for all those who were before to explain to those who came right now and also give them some time.
snap~
The moment Hu Zhao snapped his fingers, a wall behind him started going down and a dark tunnel appeared out of nowhere. Everyone gulped as they looked at the tunnel that looked like a direct way to the great abyss and nothing could be seen inside.
"Now. after the people here have explained what happened to the new ones, I will start speaking about this trial. You see, This tunnel is about five kilometers long and is divided into ten levels. You can find that at each level there are exactly fifty doors and each door leads to a special test and if you succeed in the test you can go to the next level. The tests and their difficulty are completely random and the moment you enter the door, the test and its difficulty will be chosen for you".
Everyone who heard that felt a little nervous while some people didn't seem to care and just wanted to start the trial. Hu Zhao looked at them and then said, "Beware, some of the doors may lead to tests who need to have more than one participant and if the number of participants isn't met, you will lose and can't continue the trial".
"What!!"
The moment Hu Zhao said that everyone became shocked and couldn't do anything about it because these were the rules. It was after Hu Zhao said that everyone understood that this trial is perhaps more than soloing through the tunnels but needed teamwork too.
"Now that I explained the rules, the trial will start in a minute and after that, the first thousand who reach the end of the tunnel will be the ones to qualify while the remaining alive in the tunnel will die inside the darkness of the tunnels".
The second Hu Zhao finished his words, a screen appeared above the entrance of the tunnel showing the number sixty that started counting down. Everyone tried their best to keep calm but they couldn't because of how much high the stakes are in this trial.
Of course, there were some people who didn't seem to be nervous at all like Seath, the nameless titan who although lost an arm, still believed that he could win easily.
There was also Konstantin who felt excited about all of this and prepared himself so that he can do his best. At this moment, Olenna decided to speak to everyone in the group and said, "We will always move together and when we reach a door we will all try the same door until we are unable to enter. The key to this trial is to work as a group and try to stick with each other, understood?".
"Understood".
Everyone understood Olenna words and agreed with her. Even Alex who acts always alone decided to stick this time with them so that he can win easily without working too much.
The number on the screen already reached thirty and everyone became even more nervous as they waited for Hu Zhao to let them go inside the tunnel.
As time passed, most of the people became terrified as even Lyssia and the others didn't understand how they're gonna do in all this atmosphere that had only anxiety and tense moments.
Finally, Seath who also felt how weak-minded these people were couldn't help but let a hmph as he looked at all of them. He then said to them with a smirk on his face.
"Hmph, you better all quit since most of you aren't gonna pass this trial with that anxiety of yours. All you can do is cry for your bad luck. Only those who are strong both in body and mind can pass".
At another corner of the crowd of people, two young men and a middle-aged man were standing only a few meters beside Konstantin groups and they were also looking at the screen waiting for the start of the trial so that they can show their talent.
"I'm really excited about this trial. Earlier in the first trial, we were able to win easily thanks to you, Goerge. we didn't need to do anything but perhaps this will be our time to shine".
George: "I hope that too, my prince. We must get some of the treasures that might give you the advantage against your siblings".
Second prince: "Hahaha, you always think too much about it George. aren't we here to get experience and know the world more and also test our strength to reach our true potential. The treasure is just a little reward compared to the fun we're having right now. isn't that right Saifon".
Saifon: "You're right".
the three people were of course the second prince, Saifon, and the guard captain George. they also all qualified for the second trial after easily winning in the first trial and are right standing waiting for the start of the race.
suddenly, the second prince felt a gaze and turned right as he noticed Olenna and Lyssia looking right at him. The second prince just smiled and waved his hand as he didn't want to seem impolite.
the second prince looked like a young man who barely looked 18 years old. He has black hair and brown eyes. He also has a sword on his waist. He seemed completely harmless and didn't have an aura of danger or anything else. He seemed co completely normal.
Lyssia who started to notice the second prince when he spoke looked at how familiar his appearance is and although they're wearing normal armors, you could still see the royal presence around him. Only royals can have a special presence and charisma wherever they go and they can't hide it.
Lyssia: "Hey, isn't that prince Williams from Lefia kingdom?".
Wanda: "Yeah big sis, it's him. it was his uncle whom we met back at Aiden's house near the lake. It seems like he didn't bring him this time with him".
Emelia: "Oh, so that's why we saw many nobles from other kingdoms and not that Anthony".
Olenna: "If that young man is the second prince then the other one beside him must be Saifon Grey".
Lyssia: "Hey, by Saifon you mean that Saifon!".
Wanda: "Yeah. I heard that Saifon is friends with the second prince".
Emelia: "Oh, I can't believe that the greatest genius of the south-west plains is here right now in front of us. Even at the Moxi island, people still know about him".
Konstantin: "Wait a moment, since Aiden is here right now and he even defeated me cough...cough...one of the 12 chairmen, doesn't that make him more talented than Saifon?"
Alex: "Excuse me but who is this Saifon Grey? I didn't hear his name at all before".
Lyssia: "Oh yeah. Looking at your face, it seems like you don't know about him at all. maybe it's because you're from the kederawen kingdom which is far from here. Let me explain to you then. You see, Saifon Grey is a young man who won the tri-kingdoms tournament 2 years ago and became champion at the age of 18. He also was known as the young man with the best potential to reach the Saint-level in all the south-west three kingdoms".
Alex finally understood why all these people became shocked when they heard his name. After all, a man with the potential to become a Saint never appeared in the kingdoms of the western continent and that's why the seven kingdoms don't have a Saint-level powerhouse.
Lyssia: "To be frank, his talent is very good and even in the empires, he can compare to the elite of the rich families and royal families. for the Lefia Kingdom to give birth to such a genius is something even a miracle can't do".
Alex: "Hmm....So what level is he at?".
Wanda: "Well, he didn't appear for two years so nobody knows. One of the chairmen went to that competition 2 years ago to watch for talented people and she told me that he was at the Intermediate Rank-1 Master warrior level at that time. If he's as talented as the rumors say then he must be at the Peak of Rank-1 by now. What I can't really believe is that someone who is 30 years younger than us might reach the same level as me soon. It isn't shocking that he has the great potential to reach the Saint-level in this generation. Unfortunately for him, Aiden appeared and took his place".
Alex: "took his place? Well, technically we can't count Aiden since he's a mortal and his divine ability is helping him but yeah why not".
Lyssia "That.."
Hu Zhao: "Five seconds remain".
Just when she was about to argue, Hu Zhao announced the remaining time and everyone raised their guard to the maximum and immediately prepared to run towards the entrance.
".....4.....3.....2.....1...Goooo!"
The moment Hu Zhao said go, everyone started running and didn't look behind them at all. They just went running towards the darkness and didn't care about anything else.
All nine thousand people who were present in the big hall went inside the tunnel of darkness and only Hu Zhao and another person remained. When Hu Zhao looked at Seath who just didn't run, he became a little puzzled and asked, "Aren't you going too?".
Seath: "Why should I exhaust myself when fighting against ants".
Hu Zhao: "You know young man, sometimes you need to go down from your high horse because sometimes millions of ants can take down a tiger by pouring acid on him".
"....."
Seath didn't answer and he just started walking towards the tunnel and ignored Hu Zhao.
After Seath left, Hu Zhao also decided to leave and said, "Well, I should go back to the tower and monitor from there".