The lush forest that had grown around the stadium was both lush and impenetrable, with the trees and vegetation thriving at an incredulous rate thanks to the continuous infusion of mana. The massive roots that upheld the towering trees snaked through the hardened ground of the stadium.
A dense, entwined foliage grew close to the ground of the stadium. Consisting of a variety of plants, such as bushes, small trees, and vines, growing together close. The growth of thorns and wildflowers on these varieties of plants served as a nuisance.
The thick underbrush of the now fully formed forest made it difficult to move through the forest, as the dense growth impeded progress and created multiple obstacles.
The area spanning about 6000 meters was completely enveloped by a variety of vines and numerous carnivorous plants were sprouting in abundance. The dense and prickly vines creeping around the thick tree branches made it impossible to find a secure spot for landing.
The newbies found themselves perplexed and limited by the various obstacles impeding their movement. However, the most troublesome feature of this restricted setting was the presence of wildflowers that emitted toxic substances, resulting in hallucinations and illusions.
The sounds of despair echoed through the forest, as the grim claws of death claimed the lives of the weak and blood stained the ground. To be admitted, entrants were required to sign contracts before the necessary procedures could be completed.
The contracts contained specific provisions that absolved the Academy of any liability for the death of participants during the testing process and their continued stay at the Academy if they successfully passed the test.
As Dante made his way through the thick forest, he noticed a patch of land with little to no vegetation. Drawing his katana, he charged toward the area with swift movements.
He moved with graceful steps through the dense forest, barely navigating the treacherous terrain. As he looked around, he spotted other entrants struggling to make their way through the thicket, their progress slow and uncertain.
With the risk of danger from flesh-eating plants, thorny vines, and illusion-inducing flowers, he needed to avoid any faux pas, he relied on his enhanced perception and quickly skirted around these areas densely populated with these deadly lifeforms.
Knowing the peril posed by the flesh-eating plants, thorny vines, and illusion-inducing flowers, he was cautious not to make any missteps. Relying on his heightened perception, he deftly maneuvered around the areas teeming with these lethal life forms.
With his leg muscles bulging and his Extrasensory Perception range pushed to the limit, he deftly navigated around danger zones filled with poisonous wildflowers. In the month since he became a Hunter, he had battled in numerous dungeons.
After the sudden emergence of mana on Earth, peculiar dimensions manifested themselves, featuring swirling portals that were teeming with monsters and mana beasts. These dimensions came to be known as dungeons.
However, a silver lining to these dimensions was that they served as a containment for these beasts, never allowing them to escape. In addition, these dungeons also offered valuable resources, such as the highly sought-after mana emerald.
Another type of dimensional anomaly also emerged on Earth, known as gates. Unlike the dungeons, these gates would randomly appear and unleash their contained beasts, causing widespread devastation and despair in their wake.
It was the frequent appearance of these gates that prompted the establishment of the Hunter Association, whose primary objective was to combat these beasts and protect humanity.
In the month he had spent battling in dungeons and dealing with sudden gate appearances, nothing had prepared him for the sheer unpredictability of the current situation. Nobody could have foreseen that the adorable little girl with pink hair would unleash a monstrous mana spell.
Despite the danger he had faced, this experience proved to be highly beneficial to him. His combat skills had significantly improved after facing numerous near-death situations, and his Unique Meta Traits appeared to have undergone further enhancement. His Extrasensory Perception range had increased from 10 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, taking his perception to a whole new level.
Despite his remarkable progress, he was suddenly caught off guard as two thick, thorny vines shot out from a concealed position on a branch, aimed straight at his head.
He managed to sidestep, narrowly evading both the vines. It seemed as though the vines had a mind of their own, relentlessly attacking him to end his life.
As he evaded one of the vines, he blocked the other with all his strength, but the force of the attack sent him flying, causing him to crash down a couple of trees.
As he struggled to regain his balance, the vines relentlessly continued their assault, continuously blowing him back. Disoriented and unaware of his location, he suddenly found himself in a danger zone filled with the deadliest plant life-forms imaginable, including carnivorous plants, thorny vines, and illusion-inducing flowers.
The flowers released their toxic gas, causing his perception to decrease by more than half. The carnivorous plants opened their deadly maws, hoping to take a bite out of him, while the vines continued their relentless barrage. He sustained multiple injuries, with deep scars appearing on his body as he bled profusely.
Despite being unable to slice through the thick vines, unable to ignore the gas clouding his vision, and unable to prevent the deadly maws from chomping on him, he still felt a rush of excitement as he battled these deadly plant lifeforms. His veins coursed with adrenaline as he engaged in this deadly dance, reveling in the thrill of the fight.
Despite the despairing situation, his will remained unshaken. He was determined to prove to himself that he had what it took to become the best swordsman, daring to dream even in the face of adversity.
If he couldn't even pass the entrance exam, then he had no right to dare dream of attaining the top position of the king with a sword.
Moving with effortless grace, he anticipated every attack from the vines and struck them down with deadly precision. However, his blade only deflected back, rendering his efforts useless.
Although he attempted to strike the flowers, his compromised perception caused him to miss his target. Moreover, his attempts to strike against the carnivorous plants were met with resistance as the thick vines blocked his path.
"It seems that relying solely on my physical abilities and Trait abilities was not enough to pass the test," Dante said with a weary sigh. ''It's understandable I am limited by my base physical abilities and skills. If utilizing my elemental abilities is what it takes to pass the test and move forward, then I will gladly embrace them. Either way, what I need to do has not changed.''
As a black smoky aura engulfed Dante, his katana began to reflect the light differently, now coated in black flames. After he tapped into his elemental abilities he was ready to face the obstacles head-on with newfound confidence.
As expected, after defeating the dragon he received a fire mana signature. And surprisingly the mana signature had merged into the system he shared with Elrid. This made it easier for navigating through his status and other options on the system.
It was no surprise that he obtained a fire mana signature following his victory against the fire dragon. However, what was unexpected was that the mana signature had fused with the system he and Elrid shared. As a result, navigating his status and other features on the system became much smoother.
Reinvigorated, he swiftly slashed through the plant lifeforms as they disintegrated instantly. However, the flames that ensued took an unusually long time to extinguish. He charged forward, leaving behind a blazing trail of black flames as he sliced through anything in his path.
As he charged forward, he couldn't help but notice numerous competitors effortlessly blazing through the test, their impressive array of techniques illuminating the entire forest with a stunning radiance. Explosive blasts echoed in the distance, evidence of their repeated triumphs over the dangerous plant life.
The Earth mage next to him stood out the most, with a lean yet muscular build. Of all the competitors, he seemed to have an easier time as he rode atop a massive stone golem that effortlessly crushed any plants in its path. Despite its considerable size, the golem moved with surprising swiftness, keeping pace with the nimble Dante.
The most vexing aspect of this spectacle was how the earth mage remained undisturbed amidst the widespread destruction in the forest.
Dante's mind wandered for a moment, his focus slipping from his surroundings, focusing on the earth mage. Suddenly, a cluster of wooden spears shot out of the ground, aimed directly at his jaw. Reacting quickly, he jumped backward just in time to narrowly avoid being impaled.
As Dante jumped backward to avoid the wooden spears, he quickly assessed the situation. He realized that he was in danger and needed to act fast to defend himself. With a clear head and focused mind, he took a deep breath and steadied himself.
As Dante gazed at the Earth Mage, he realized that studying the mage's actions had its benefits. With a keen eye, he spotted a tree in the distance that appeared to be free of deadly plant lifeforms.
He realized that he could use the tree to his advantage, so he began to climb it. Finally reaching the tree, Dante breathed a sigh of relief as he realized he had found a relative haven. His eyes still scanned the forest for any threats.
Perched on the tree, Dante took a moment to catch his breath and survey the area. As he looked around, he noticed that the ground was covered in traps, including the ones from which the wooden spears had emerged.
Realizing the danger that lay ahead, Dante knew he had to be extra careful as he made his way through the forest. He carefully studied the layout of the traps and plotted a safe path through them.
With a clear plan in mind, Dante he decided to descend from the tree. As Dante looked up at the Earth Mage, the mage suddenly opened his eyes and spoke before disappearing atop the golem.
''Oh. Finally, an interesting person has caught my eye.'' The Earth Mage said as he arrived dangerously close to Dante.
Dante found himself caught off guard, unable to anticipate his opponent's movements. He was taken aback and suddenly became alarmed, jumping backward with his katana held out in front of him.
''Hey there, take it easy. Now is not the time for a fight. I'm looking for a partner and you seem quite intriguing'' With a smile on his face, the Earth Mage raised his hands in surrender.
''Isn't it customary to introduce yourself before proposing a partnership? It's considered impolite to suddenly approach someone without any prior notice.'' Dante replied in a cold voice.
Despite actually considering the partnership, he chose to play hardball. The man standing before him appeared to be quite formidable and didn't seem to harbor any ill will, but he felt it necessary to establish dominance. He knew that he stood to gain more from the partnership and wanted to avoid a scenario where he would be used as mere cannon fodder.
With the girl's arrival and the subsequent growth of the forest, they had only managed to traverse half of the treacherous terrain. The traps he had encountered thus far were a clear indication that the other half would be just as challenging, if not more so. It was becoming increasingly clear that forming a team would be a wise decision.
''Alright, my apologies. I go by the name of Atlas Patton, and as you can probably tell, I practice Earth Magic," the mage said, pausing momentarily. ''I couldn't help but notice your unique dual-colored eyes. I've been curious about them for a while now.''