While Autumn was eliminating people from the exam, I was steadily making my way back to my cave. As I took note of my surroundings, I knew that my cave was only five minutes away.
Though once I took another step, a huge burst of a sweet and meaty fragrance entered my nose. And after I received the scent, I knew there were humans around.
'Have they managed to find my cave? If so then they're probably trying to make it their base. And if that's the case then they can have it, it's not worth drawing attention for.'
I reasoned with myself for my safety of not being found out. Then with a displeased smile, I began turning back. That was until I began to hear screams and shouts coming from the direction of the cave.
'Either it's some heavy infighting or they've already been found. And if that's the case then I might be next.'
Then seemingly only to convince me of my intelligence, a man underneath my tree dressed in a black suit spotted me. And right as the smirk appeared on his smug face, I felt an urge to wipe it right off his face.
Though unlike before I didn't follow through and dashed off further into the treetops. Nevertheless, I soon found out that even with half of my speed, I couldn't outrun him.
He was dead on my trial. Be that as it may, I was still simply using half of my full speed. Then once I dropped to the ground and was confronted, I took off running at full speed.
The Golden Member was astonished, they were considered the fastest of the Rank 1 Members. And it was the same even when they were inside the Academy.
And so seeing such quickness come from a mere participant caused a lot of damage to their ego. Why? because they knew that they couldn't hope to reach such a speed until a very long time, coupled with intense training.
While running away at full speed, Marcel had managed to spot an area that had caught his eye. How could he still keep alert while running at such a rate?
It was due to him being in this very place for just a bit under a month. He had trained himself to keep alert, because if he had even slipped up once, then his life very much might have been over.
'This area is quite new to me but still when did the bushes ever align in such a way? Three bushes are facing a large hill, which is covered in vines.' I thought before giving the vines a closer look.
'The vines are dead.' I thought before forcing my way through a waist-sized bush. Only for it to fall over to the side, and with slight touch the others did as well.
'These aren't even rooted into the ground. It's almost like this linear order of bushes along with the dead vines were placed here by someone.' Then just like dogs, I began taking in the smells of the area.
'I don't smell any humans or even beasts nearby.'
That's when I found another bush but a lot smaller covering up some kind of small hole. The whole was man-made, but what kind of human could punch out the stone with their bare hands?
'Someone that could use Ki or just a freak with a high tolerance to pain.' I supposed before entering the hole, only to find myself in a very large space.
There were beasts of skins of all kinds laid on the floor and hung on the walls. Even heads hung as trophies. Even with this, the room didn't smell at all. It smelled kind of good.
Like cinnamon?
That's where I came across candles, though they were not lit. Thankfully.
There was even a pit where wood rested and a small lighter to the side.
'Just who made this place, because whoever they are, I just know they're far stronger than I am.' I thought while rubbing my hand along the wall and feeling the imprints of knuckles.
"Well, I've found a new base of operations. Time to restore it to its original state and find something to eat."
"Also, since whoever made this could be a golden member, I better watch out for them. They could return here at any minute after all."
I said before returning the place to its original appearance and began foraging for berries and hunting for food.
After I had my fill, I began searching for an area with a source of clean water.
Meanwhile, while I was out scouting for water, Patricia was wandering her side of the forest. And giving her honest assumptions about her teammates.
"Autumn seems kind of weird but she's probably a much nicer person outside of this and all. As for Marcel, well I don't know how much to make of him, I mean he rarely says anything."
"All in all, I'm in a team with a bunch of weirdos. One talks a lot about how rich she is, which grinds my gears. I mean if you're so rich then why didn't you buy your way past the entrance exams? If that is even possible."
"The other is a total spaced-out idiot, and for some reason, he always takes her side of things. Well, you'd have to be an idiot to ignore multiple of my advances and conversation starters."
"Though, I still find him a bit charming."
She began dumping out her true options of her teammates while walking through the forest, barely alert.
After she had finished that sentence, a team of three boys began to surround her. One stood far to her left, the other to her right, and one straight in front of her.
Just a bit away from being three feet away.
"She doesn't look like she has many boys but even so, begin with the plan as usual." The one in front of Patricia casually barked his orders.
"Join us or forfeit your life!" One of the men shouted out.
Just then the two began closing in on Patricia. Though she wasn't panicking, because with one look at these two she knew that she could handle them both easily.
'Father called me a genius for getting to this level at my young age. So it's time to show them just what a genius can do.' She thought before dashing at one of her attackers.
Her speed was much faster than theirs giving her the upper hand. Once she reached the man, she threw out an overhand punch with her right hand.
With her base strength being quite strong and her fists to be concealed by her green shiny gauntlets. They only added to the amount of force that came into contact with the man's face.
The force sent him flying back a few feet. The other one upon seeing this still began to charge. His courage did not waver even a little bit.
Though he soon felt the same way. Patricia had let the man come to her this time. And when he made it to her location, she prepared her fist almost as if she were a boxer and let out two jabs with her right hand.
And when she noticed that only one had connected she used her left hand to perform a left hook. The first attack had already hurt the man, though the second one would leave more than a mark.
He would need medical attention if he ever awoke that is.
"Well done, I didn't expect much from a mute like yourself. Now I'll have to take matters into my own hands, and on the way…well, you just might end up becoming my woman." The leader said with a wild smirk on his dark-skinned face.
"As if!"
Patricia shouted before charging right at the man.
"So you can talk!"
The man shouted before reading his stance, and pulling out a blunt sword with no sharp edge.