When Delta explained the first phase, the participants had already expected it to be dangerous. However, they still thought that as long as they avoided thirios like the one shown in the hologram, everything would be alright.
So, when they faced the reality, all of them fell into despair.
Not only they hadn't been given the chance to choose which target to fight but the thirios, who were supposed to be the prey of that hunting game, turned out to be the real hunters. And obviously only the most powerful of them got to choose their prey.
They thought that they could go around searching for weak thirios to kill, only engaging in low-risk fights. They had expected the first phase to be dangerous maybe even life-threatening.
And that was their mistake, life-threatening situations weren't a possibility but a certainty. If they wanted to pass the first phase, they had to put their lives on the line.
Those who realized this, strengthened their conviction, allowing them to push their own limits in the middle of their fights. While those who didn't…
Shing!
They simply chose the "Emergency" option on their ID card.
The HSA only wanted those with enough willpower to stay in such an adverse environment could grow while putting their lives on the line. Those who didn't have that were useless to them, so they gave those people the option to quit the tournament.
On top of a building, Seth watched speechless, as the city was filled with the helpless screams of the participants who had already lost their battles against the thirios. However, some seconds later the screams began started to cease as most of the participants chose to teleport themselves away from the test area. However, while most of the losing participants teleported away, the sound of battle erupted again much quieter than before, because of the participants who had decided to stay, risking their lives to defeat their opponent.
'Tsk, this will be harder than I thought,' Seth thought as he watched the battlefield below him. 'I was lucky I wasn't targeted by thirio while on midair or as soon as I landed,' Seth thought. He knew he couldn't rely on having the same luck during the rest of the first phase. Not only that but there was also the possibility that he had been targeted by a thirio and that it was only waiting for the right moment to attack.
Before boarding the plane, Seth had left his duffle bag back in the room that the HSA had provided him since he wouldn't be able to move properly with such a big bag. Right now he was wearing a sling backpack where he had packed only the essentials, though he would have to ration the food and water or it wouldn't last a week.
Some participants had brought bigger backpacks with enough water and food for two weeks, however, it soon proved to be a wrong idea when most of the participants were attacked as soon as they landed. Bringing a light backpack had been the best option.
Seth reached for his backpack and pulled what seemed to be a hand scythe attached by the handle to a chain that ended in a metal bracelet. He put the bracelet on his left wrist and grabbed the hand scythe with his left hand before he headed for the stairs that led to the interior of the building. His hand resting on his katana's handle at all times.
'There could be thirios in the interior of the building,' he thought as he walked down the stairs stealthily until he arrived at a door. '101st floor, I should try to find a way to get down more quickly,' he thought as he looked at the sign in the door. He quietly turned the door handle and opened the door.
The buildings of the test area not only looked destroyed and worn out from the outside but also from the inside. As Seth entered the room he saw a lot of destroyed desks and debris laying all over the floor. The windows were broken as well, making the wind whistle as it passed through them.
'An office building,' Seth thought as he walked quietly through the room.
Screech
The sound of the thirio sent a shiver through Seth's spine, making him stop. He looked around trying to figure out where the sound had come from.
Screech
'Behind that wall,' Seth thought as he shivered again. He started walking toward it as stealthily as possible.
Crunch Munch Munch Munch
'He's eating,' Seth thought as he got to the other side of the wall and heard the thirio chewing something. What he saw sent another shiver down his spine.
The thirio was a bat like-creature, similar to a gargoyle, and almost two meters tall. He was eating facing the window, so he didn't see Seth who was behind him.
When the thirio looked to one side, Seth was able to see its large snout and a sharp horn at its end. Its snout, hands, and part of its wings were covered in the blood of the human arm he was eating.
Seth tried to slowly approach the thirio, now that it was eating and vulnerable it was his best opportunity to take him down.
Crack
When he was around 10 meters away from the thirio, without realizing he stepped on a piece of wood that cracked, alerting the thirio.
Screeeeeech
The thirio quickly dropped the arm and turned toward Seth, its bloodlust directed toward him. Without missing a beat, the thirio shot toward Seth at high speed.
'Tsk, I didn't want to use more stamina than necessary,' thought Seth.
His reaction was almost instantaneous, he threw his hand scythe, which wrapped around the thirio's front horn, and strongly pulled the chain downward as he dodged to the side.
Thud!
As a result, the thirio fell to the ground and its head landed right in front of Seth. He grabbed his katana's handle tightly.
"Sorry, but I have no plans to become anyone's prey," he said right before slashing the thirio's neck, cutting off his head. The slash was so fast that the thirio wasn't even able to see the moment Seth drew his sword.