Morning light rays declared the start of the next day.
Luo Si stretched her body after leaving the cage. "Alright. Time waits for no one. I have already wasted enough time on that brat. The real deal starts now."
"The money I have robbed, I mean taken as compensation is still insufficient. The most basic ingrediances alone cost as much as the tournament fee." She could do nothing but curse the merchants.
The fact of being poor on both sides was a hard hit for any girl. Especially for someone who could have bought the land in sight over a hundred times with the cheapest grain of dust in her possession not to long ago.
Her fizzy silhouette became dark when she darted into the forest. Gliding onwards, she encompassed her surroundings. Different sounds could be heard all over the place. The wind was passing through tree leaves, bushes rustled, birds tweeted as well as other animals could be heard. If one compared the forest with the Amazonas, they would find no difference, and yet the danger lurking inside, could be no less different.
Luo Si collected and bundled some lianas together, making a small bag for collected herbs and stuff. Qi was emitted and retracted in a sonar-based way. "Treasures at the boarder are truly scars."
Clashes could be heard all over the place.
"The competition should lessen if I dive some deeper. Oh, there is one."
Her figure stopped in front of a small undistinguished flower. It looked no different from any other flower, just that there were purple dots on the leaves.
Pick*
"I don't know how valuable it is, but a herb is a herb." Since she hadn't gone through any herbal books to enhance her wisdom about the forest's vegetation, she would just collect anything.
Pick* Ssha*
Another plant landed in her bag, but suddenly a small shadow jumped out of a hole and wanted to bite her.
"Hehe, don't think you can be sneaky in front of me." A hand grasped the airborne shadow and tightened its grip.
Crack*
The snake's weak spine was crushed. "And into the bag you go. Since your magic power was so weak, I will dispose you if I find better things."
She continued her hunting.
An hour later.
"My bags are full. Time to return." Two bags, filled to the brim laid on her back. One was leaking blood, while the other had a multitude of scents. Having distanced herself from any competition the process of collecting valuables went smoother then anticipated.
Luo Si decided to return and headed back the way she came.
Tap* Tap*
Her ears perceived some fast-approaching steps. Two figures made their way towards her when she looked at the direction of approach.
"Hehe, our next victim Rachel."
"Yeah, but I don't know if it's a player or not. That person is weird."
Luo Si could not understand what they said, since they did not speak in qi nor Chinese, indicating that the party of two was made out of foreign players. But a smile yet not a smile formed on her face. Another shadow approached from behind the duo, being bigger than both together.
"Oh my, they brought me a present. And a big one at that."
"Doesn't matter. Just tie the bear onto her." The young man said before turning towards Luo Si.
"Help! We need help." He called out and threw a tattered sword at her. Smeared with green slime running down the blade, the latter caught it.
A red and black striped bear dashed from behind the player towards Luo Si. It was clearly angered as it glowed dangerously. The eyes were red, the teeth fletched and a small trace of green blood leaked from a cut on its shoulder.
'The bear is clearly out of their league. How are they still alive? Their teamwork must be pretty impressive.' She swipped her hand over the blade's side.
Feeling the fresh blood, her eyes narrowed. 'They probably use the bear to kill others. The tactics of the weak and evil are clearly marvelous. But that's not how you get stronger.'
The duo passed her sides. Not even attempting any cooperation in fighting the bear. The only thing that was shown was a cheap smile.
The bear on the other hand did not care who stood in his path as it was in blind rage, not caring who fell victim to its outbreak. Readying for a hot headbutt, it came closer and closer.
The fizzy figur just stood there and thrusted out a palm, while slightly leaning forward.
Patch*
The two connected and a small cloud formed for a second. The animal screamed in agony and shook its head in dizziness after it connected with a cold hand.
Luo Si's stance on the other hand did not change, but the fixed state changed into a moving one. She looked like a statue that slid back on ice. The palm still stretched out.
Sliding past the players, she was met with confused expressions.
GROAR*
The state of confusion did not last long as the beast was also catching up, somehow having grown horse legs. Heat was constantly emitted and withered everything in its path.
"Hey, don't steal our plan. Shaking off people is our thing." The duo protested before being bashed aside by the hot locomotive. Luo Si braced herself for the next impact after her eyes flickered from side to side, analyzing her environment.
Slap* Kshh*
Another shockwave-like cloud formed, but this time liquid exploded out. The bears right eye was hit and was no more. Along with the uncentered attack, the girl's direction also changed. The forest on her new way ended after some dozen meters abruptly. Not only the trees, but the ground as well.
Luo Si interrupted the skid step technique when she passed the last trunk, leaving 2 parallel-running pitches as she stopped an inch before the vanishing ground.
Madness had already consumed the bear. It followed behind Hong Luo Si like a death god.
The animal jumped towards her. The paws stretched out wide similar to its mouth hindering her every path of retreat. The opposite had also stretched out her hands. It looked more like a warm welcome in comparison though.
The bear packed forward with all his might, aiming to stomp her into the ground.
The ground however, took longer than expected to help him in his execution. When the body already turned by 180° the bear opened his intact eye.
Shocked the bear realized 2 things after sobering up immediately from its rage. First, a 20-meter ascending stone wall, erecting itself.
The second was his target falling upside down and parallel to itself, untangled.
Different from the panicing bear Luo Si did not despair. Gripped the sword tightly she rammed it into the wall. The sword, hardly an inch inside counter the gravitational force. The sword wielder slowed down, exiting the race to the ground.
Wimp*
A last cry could be heard from winner, involuntarily accepting a one-way ticket straight to the afterlife.
Thud*