Lucas was currently examining the levitating wooden hut. He had yet to discover how Seth managed to accomplish such a feat. However, Lucas was not particularly curious and simply accepted that he was not yet ready to learn the answer.
Seth was standing in front of him, providing more detailed instructions on what Lucas was to do. Essentially, Lucas was just required to hunt any animal he could find, the bigger the better, and then bring it back by the following day.
It was a straightforward task, until Lucas realized that he would be under the immense pressure that he experienced yesterday.
"Alright, you may go now. Remember, flee if you encounter a beast."
At those words, Lucas set off and began sprinting as fast as he could.
'He has repeated that so many times, are beasts really that dangerous? I mean I understand that even a Rank 1 beast can rival two Rank 1 Stage 4 humans, but I feel like I could defeat two Rank 1 humans as well. Hopefully I'll encounter a beast.'
Lucas had to run for 20 minutes to reach the forest, so he had time to contemplate.
'What if I encounter a Rank 2 beast? Does the forest even have Rank 2 beasts? Maybe they travel in packs and that's why it is so perilous.'
Soon enough, Lucas reached the forest and started hunting for prey, but the strange thing was, all the animals would start running before Lucas even saw them. This happened every single time Lucas approached and he was beginning to get a bit frustrated.
'Stop running!'
Lucas chased the animals like a maniac, he wanted to complete this task as quickly as possible, but Lucas was now starting to comprehend why Seth gave him until tomorrow to finish it.
Lucas eventually decided to try stealth because chasing them was not effective. Lucas hid in a bush and waited patiently.
...
...
Hours passed, Lucas' patience had already worn thin after the first 20 minutes.
'How can they sense me before I even get near them? It just doesn't make se–'
...
'Am I emanating an aura?'
Lucas could only think of one thing, and that was an aura, but he was correct.
'Alright, I need to calm down. Deep breaths.'
He started to feel more tranquil, and his aura started to dissipate. Before long, a pack of wolves came into view. They cautiously searched around, as if seeking signs of Lucas.
'I've got you now!'
Lucas sprang out and formed an energy blade, he cut one wolf in half while the others fled. His aura was back in full force, yet Lucas did not seem to mind as he gazed at the wolf corpse.
'I did it! I finally did it!'
The day was already nearly over, and Lucas felt exhausted, the weight had been pressing on him every single second, yet he finally felt relieved. His aura began to dissipate once more.
Lucas picked up both halves of the wolf corpse and started running back in the direction he had come from.
...
...
When Lucas was almost out, his mind detected an extremely dangerous presence approaching him.
Lucas wanted to run, but he could not move, he was frozen in place out of fear. Lucas felt the ground shake with every step of the being.
Lucas soon saw the being. It was a beast and one he assumed to be extremely powerful!
'What is this! Such power!'
The beast resembled a hulking, muscular boar with razor-sharp tusks and matted fur, but something about it was very different. The beast's body carried so much strength that Lucas feared the ground would split apart any second. The deep-red eyes pierced Lucas' mind and it was like Lucas was a mere toddler standing before a serial killer brandishing a knife.
Luckily, the beast decided Lucas wasn't worth its time and continued what seemed to be stomping on the earth, probably looking to intimidate more prey.
Of course, Lucas didn't waste more time and sprinted faster than he had ever done before, reaching the wooden hut in a staggering 10 minutes.
Seth was there to welcome Lucas but he sensed that something was wrong.
Lucas gladly explained but Seth didn't seem to show any emotion on the outside as he listened to Lucas' tale.
"Mmh, it seems you encountered a Beast Boar, from your description, only Rank 4s and above could make you frozen in fear like that. You're lucky that it decided you were not worth its time. But to think you got so unlucky."
Seth gave his opinion but it didn't really make Lucas feel any better. However, he did pass Seth's test, even if it was only a measly wolf.