The three families all gathered at the summit of the great mountain. Leon accompanied Ari and her party as they prepared for the beginning of the trial.
While helping the others ready their equipment for the perilous journey that stood before them, Leon stole some glances towards the other groups.
'Ari was right.'
The main groups dispatched from the other families did not seem to pose much of a threat besides the ones overseen by the family heirs.
Out of the ten groups gathered at the base of the mountain only three seemed to be noteworthy. These groups of course were the main families that had been specifically dispatched to compete with each other.
Ari leaned in next to Leon and pointed them out.
"That team over there is led by the second family's eldest. See the one with the cocky expression plastered all over him. That's Zack. He's especially got a grudge against my family." She said while trying not to draw attention from the group in question.
Leon studied the fiery heir of the second family and struggled to contain his laughter.
'He looks like someone born with a silver spoon lodged in his throat.'
After inspecting the second family's group's strength, Leon noticed it was quite similar to his own group's. At least, when taking his own placement out of the equation.
"The other group to look out for would be the third family's. They're the ones assembled near the back and are led by the tall guy with glasses. His name is Jinn. Although they look pretty passive don't let that fool you. They're only slightly inferior to the second family."
Ari summed up the remaining groups but Leon didn't find any of the others to peak his interest.
'Huh... The leaders of the second and third families seem to be total opposites.'
When he studied the two leaders he found both their statures to be very different from the other's. While Zack gave off an immature and fiery natured vibe, Jinn seemed to be the total opposite with a cold and calculated persona.
'Well, this should be fairly interesting to see how everything pans out.'
Leon would've loved for the trial to start right away but according to Ari, as per tradition, they had to wait for the announcement from the three heads of the families.
'Although it doesn't look like the second family's group particularly cares about this tradition.'
Scoffed Leon as he watched Zack's group anxiously pacing back and forth towards the mountain as if they were being starved from life itself.
Finally the heads of the family took to the podium and began the commencement.
"As you all know the beginning of this year's flood trial shall start today! The rules are the same as they always have been since hundreds of years prior. Each group is tasked with climbing Flood Mountain and acquiring flood crystals that can be found in veins scattered all over the mountain. Group leaders will be in charge of storing these crystals in the proper storage containers provided here."
The head of the main family gestured to the table below the podium that had small gray bags with straps that could easily be hung over a person's shoulder.
"I would like to remind everyone that killing is prohibited. However, the mountain is quite dangerous and there tends to be accidents, so realize that your life is at stake when participating. You must return to the summit by the end of tomorrow for your contribution to be deemed valid and the results will be announced that very evening."
The three family heads all expectantly looked towards their heirs' groups in anticipation of those results.
"Group leaders! Step forward and receive your containers! Once they have been received you may start immediately."
Multiple people stepped forward to accept their respective storages including the previous leaders Leon was inspecting.
Ari also stepped forward and quickly walked towards the table so her group could begin.
"pfff... Get out of my way you first family dog." Muttered Zack as he pushed passed Ari to be the first to get a bag.
It seemed like the second family heir made sure he was unheard by those surrounding them, but Leon could clearly hear and see the aggression the kid displayed since his senses were heightened after attaining his new realm.
"Guess I can look forward to butting heads with this group frequently." Leon murmured in anticipation.
No matter where he was, Leon knew he was bound to run into arrogant and headstrong individuals. If his life in business and the underground had taught him anything it was that people loved to flaunt their power. Even if it was not very significant.
"Alright, let's go before those second family bastards are able to do anything else." Said Ari immediately after her return to the group.
"Let's show those ungrateful brats why we are still the head family!"
Many voices chimed in to boost their moral while they made their way closer towards the mountainous trial that stood before them.
As they began racing up the seemingly never ending terrain of the mountain, Leon could see the other groups closely following behind them. Only two other groups were able to match their pace, which were of course the ones Leon had recognized from the start.
He picked up his pace to stay beside Ari.
"So what was the plan you guys had in mind?"
"We will race towards the middle section of the mountain since the higher you climb the more abundant the flood crystals are. But try to remain between the middle and higher grounds of the mountain. Any higher and the danger you encounter will similarly raise in difficulty." Explained Ari sternly.
"Is it really that difficult?"
"You will see once we reach the middle grounds." Chuckled Ari.
'What danger could we possibly face? Harder terrain?' Leon wondered.
As they continued their race up the mountain, Leon noticed that the horde of people around them began to lessen. There were only roughly five groups still continuing including theirs.
'Looks like a bunch of the smaller groups decided to stay in the lower grounds.'
Finally, their group similarly slowed down to a walking pace. Leon widened his eyes when he glanced ahead to see the reason for their sudden change in speed.
"Is this the middle grounds?" He asked.
"Yes, here we will begin collecting. Everyone be careful! I don't want to lose a single person here!" Ari demanded.
"So what's so different here compared to the lower ground? All I see is a change in temperature."
Questioned Leon while staring at the surrounding landscape.
It seemed the temperature began to fall significantly the higher up they scaled the mountain. Frost was a new brushstroke that painted the scenery around them. Due to Leon's realm he was unbothered by the change in temperature, but that could not be said for the others in their group.
"Shit it's cold!"
Many of their members complained as they tried to warm themselves with the clothes they currently adorned.
"You can avoid the cold by circulating your qi! Everyone make sure to focus, otherwise if you wander further in, you will be nothing but an ice sculpture." Advised Ari.
The members of the group heeded her words and different colored auras began surrounding their bodies like a thin blanket to resist the cold.
Only Leon and Ari remained colorless as they slowly continued through the tundra.
Leon noticed small crevices and openings in the mountain beginning to reveal themselves along with snow.
'This must be where most the flood crystals are.'
He noted as he followed the group towards one of the larger crevices.
He expected the small cave to be relatively dark but surprisingly it was not. Light that reflected like waves of water illuminated the cave and rippled along the walls.
"Alright, everyone be on their guard! We are close to the crystals!"
Leon nodded his head and prepared himself like the rest of the group.
'It's only a bunch of crystals... Why are they all so on guard?'
As they quietly walked along a bend in the cave, Leon's eyes widened.
Near the back of the cavern were multiple bluish crystals jutting out from the walls and floor, but this was not the sight that caused his alarm.
The hushed breathing that echoed from the back of the cave originated from the creatures calmly sleeping atop these crystals.
'Wyverns?'
Leon was confused by the presence of these medium sized lizards that had wings curled around their scaled bodies.
"Looks like we lucked out this time. There are only three of them. Let's try to quietly deal with them so we don't arouse anything else that could be here." Whispered Ari to the group.
"What do you need me to do?" Whispered Leon to the group leader in anticipation.
"For now, just watch our backs and make sure nothing else appears while we deal with these." Answered Ari as she slightly waved her hand to signal the others.
'I figured it would end up like this... Hopefully I can see some action soon.' Sighed Leon as he watched the group sneak up on the sleeping wyverns and deal with them accordingly.
'Although, I wonder what other creatures could be dwelling on this mountain.' He thought as he watched the Wyverns' lifeless bodies fall from the crystals.
"Alright lets gather the crystals everyone." Proudly announced Ari.
Leon also headed over to the group to help bag the mysterious crystals and was surprised when Ari pulled out small metallic scythe looking tools from within the storage container.
"How can that container hold all of that? Actually, how is it even going to hold all of these crystals?" He questioned after comparing the bag's size to the load it would have to fit within.
"Ah, right. I guess no one explained to you the use of this little tool." Said Ari while grinning and holding up the bag.
"This is a small spatial storage container. It can hold up to about a space of roughly a couple square meters. It might only be a lower level spatial storage but it is still extremely helpful and expensive." Ari explained with a wink and demonstrated as she began to pour crystals into the bag.
Leon was surprised since it seemed like the bag just swallowed all the crystals and they simply disappeared into a void. He couldn't just quite wrap his head around the fact but this was now the world he lived in this time around.
'The cultivation world... Imagine the amount of wealth, mystery, and knowledge I missed out on in my previous life.'
He drooled at the realization that he was now becoming a part of this strange world and even had obtained a cultivation realm himself, even if it was just a minor one. But compared to normal humans he was already a monster.
Leon shook his head and refocused on the mission before him as he gestured for Ari to hand him one of the crystal harvesting scythes.
After the team harvested and bagged most the crystals they prepared to leave and search for the next cave.
"Good work everyone! If we can keep to this pace we should be able to win this trail."
Ari's words of encouragement continued to bolster the team's moral.
'Alright, with this pace we should be able to come out on top.'
Leon figured that the other teams were probably only a bit behind their team. At this point, it would no longer just be skill and time they relied on but luck itself.
After some time had passed, Leon began to store the last batch of crystals he had harvested, but then paused.
'What is this strange chill I'm beginning to feel?'
He looked around the small cavern to locate the rest of his teammates.
"Leon! Where did the others run off to?" Questioned Ari after pausing her harvesting and looking around as well.
"I'm not sure..."
Leon could've sworn that just a moment ago the others were also busy harvesting crystals, but now as he and Ari glanced around the frozen cavern. They discovered that they were the only ones present.
"Ugh! I told them to focus and stay alert! We can't afford to fall behind! They're proba-" Complained Ari before Leon interrupted her.
"Shhhh... Do you hear that?"
Leon wasn't certain but he could've sworn a strange noise was coming from somewhere near them.
"Hear what?" Asked Ari as she also strained to hear the hushed noise.
"It's like the sound of something scratching..."
Leon put away his tools and crouched closer to the ground.
"What are you doing?"
Leon waved his hand for a moment of silence as he pressed his ear against the frozen ground.
"It's coming from below us..."
He sat back up and wiped away the small amount of frost and snow that covered the floor.
"What is that!" Shrieked Ari.
"Hahaha... That's interesting." Said Leon as they both stared through the uncovered portion of ice beneath them.
Beneath the thick icy floor they were standing on was something they could not believe existed. Large white fuzzy like spiders, that resembled polar bears yet were even larger, were busy at work. Flood crystals that were much larger compared to what they had previously mined above were being chiseled away by these horrifying creatures.
"What are they doing?" Whispered Ari as she moved closer to Leon to get a better view.
"I think they are expanding their nest." He answered as he pointed to the spiders shaping the large crystals.
The nest was already big to begin with and resembled that of a small arctic town. However, with the amount of spiders at work, Leon could tell that this large town would eventually be transformed into a city.
In the center of the nest was a large icicle but would resemble more closely to a large ice stalactite, that hung from the frozen ceiling Leon and Ari stood on.
"Look! There are our teammates!" Gasped Ari as she pointed to the tip of the stalactite.
Leon switched his gaze away from the spiders to locate the area she was pointing at. There at the tip of the stalactite were intricately made webs and web sacks made of ice.
'This would actually be beautiful and bring envy from any ice sculptor if not for the spiders' existence.' Thought Leon as he identified his teammates and a couple other humans trapped within these icy webs.
"We need to rescue them!"
Ari began to unsheathe her rapier and was about to strike the ice they stared through until Leon grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing? Let go!" Ari complained as she tried to break free from his strong grip.
"What and let you kill us both? I don't think so. Calm down and think for a moment." Leon said exasperatedly.
He let her go after seeing that she wouldn't take any rash actions and stood up from their vantagepoint.
'They must've snuck up here to capture our teammates while we were distracted... But where did they come from?'
"Help me look for some way to get down there."
He motioned towards Ari to follow him back to where their teammates were previously harvesting crystals.
They moved closer to the back of the cavern where the traces were still fresh from the recent harvesting of crystals.
"Look the tools!"
Ari picked up a few of the scythes off the cold ground that she had given to their teammates.
"It must be somewhere close to here..."
Leon began searching around the area.
"Wait, where are the wyverns that we killed?" asked Leon.
"I don't know... Their bodies should've been right over there." Said Ari as she pointed towards their location past the deserted tools.
They made their way over to the wyverns' gravesite. However, only a few small pools of their blood remained.
Leon bent down to inspect the scene closer.
'If they also took the wyverns for a source of food as well then we might be in luck.'
A small trail was left near the pools of blood signaling that the spiders had taken the wyvern carcasses along with them.
"Ari, let's follow this blood trail. It should lead us to what we're looking for." Said Leon but she was already ahead of him.
"Hurry up! We don't know when those things are gonna get hungry!"
Leon shook his head and smiled while running after the stubborn girl.
'I didn't imagine that I would be hired as an exterminator when agreeing to this trail.'
Eventually, they found a crevice further in the cavern that the blood trail continued through.
"I guess this is our entrance." Bluntly exclaimed Ari.
"Looks like it. Luckily those crystals also make for a fairly decent light source."
The small amount of crystals they had found in the cavern were able to light up their surroundings but the amount beneath them in the nest was unimaginable. Leon guessed it would be substantial if the small passage before them was already this bright.
'Maybe it's a lot larger down there than we expected.'
Leon shivered slightly at the thought of having to deal with more of those spiders than they had already seen.
'Let's just hope there aren't more than we can handle...'
He thought as he and Ari carefully snuck through the eerie passage hoping to not encounter any of the arctic spiders yet.