I felt the cold air pass by my skin. It had barely been an hour since I had begun the trial but these shivers that had started ever since my first kill in this realm had not stopped.
In fact it seemed as if they were only increasing in frequency.
It told of something. My instincts were practically wailing at me, telling me that I was being watched. But by who.
I had already scoured my surroundings many times and besides the insects and animals there was nothing.
Of course there were also the goblins but those were a different feel. Not like the almost bone deep chill that I felt from whatever was watching me.
But despite all of the searches that I had gone through, ones that ate into my limited time. I couldn't help but search even more frequently.
My instincts had not failed me so far and I would not doubt them.
Either way I grit my teeth and once again cut another goblin, my eyes scouring the surroundings for any sign of something.
Though this time it was different. This goblin, I could feel the stench of mana roll off of him.
What he was doing, I didn't know and nor did I allow him time to do said things as I had targeted him immediately upon feeling the mana.
Yet I still searched the surroundings to make sure that there was nothing that could be a danger to me or hidden.
My thoughts and search was broken by the sound of a voice.
"Hello… anyone…" It was weak, barely even noticeable over the slight sound of wind. Yet it was almost crystal clear in its voice. I didn't know or could think of a method that could achieve that.
I thought back to when I was scouring the area, the footsteps that I had glossed over.
Once again I found them and kneeled down to inspect them.
They were of an unknown quantity to me. I couldn't even tell what species had done this.
They were small, too small to be any of the contestants that had come with me. I frowned and started to follow them.
Yet they were also too small to be a goblin's, from my own experience they were a bit larger and had a more fanged appearance and rarely would they use a rudimentary shoe.
And even if they did it would come to look more like a human's footprint.
Either way I walked forwards, following the trail as far as I could.
Eventually though I heard the shouting echoes of battle. In front of me were two or three people. Each of them covering each others back as they were assaulted by… by…
My mouth went dry as I saw them, as I saw my subordinates faces in their eyes. For a moment I stilled as my mana flared wildly.
"Guh… What-" I felt something tackle me, mud filling my clothes as I fell to the ground.
Something was force fed to me and for a second I felt everything go white until it wasn't.
Once again I was in the field, surrounded by enemies but they weren't the kobolds that I had known anymore.
Instead they were shadowy creatures that seemed to shift with the wind.
"I gave you a [mental relief potion] it should last long enough to take care of these shadows."
I nodded and took it at face value. I could interrogate them later. For now I needed to fight.
My body was flooded with mana as I dashed forwards. The head of the shadow falling from its place as it dispersed into a rune.
I turned my head and dashed to help the other person there. She was struggling, the spear in her hand constantly knocked back with her body.
She was able to take it and use it for her own momentum but that was not enough to overcome the defenses of the shadow.
For a moment I approached all the while waiting for the opportunity I needed.
'Now!' I thought as I rushed forwards and caught the shadow by surprise, my sword already cutting it in half.
It gave no resistance to my sword. I had expected to feel some knock back from the body, thinking that the neck may have just been vulnerable.
But no, they were just that squishy. Or…
I looked down to my sword as the fighting stopped.
'Maybe you're just too sharp.' Either way it didn't matter, they were dead and I was left with two unknowns.
One of which had fed me some sketchy potion.
…
"Here, as thanks." I looked up from where I was sitting.
The man that had force fed me a potion was holding something.
I looked at what it was and quickly accepted it.
A rune, well two-thirds of one. The last third going to their duo.
"Really, I'm so thankful that you helped us."
He seemed almost embarrassed to admit it.
I tried to find the girls thoughts on this through her expression but found nothing but a cloak.
I glared back up and flared my mana for a second.
"That potion, what was it?" My voice was hard, I was fed something unknown and regardless of how it helped me I needed to know what it was.
"It's a [mental relief potion] brewed by some alchemist and sold in the shops around the tower. It's quite common to stick up in some before undergoing the first trial, did you not know?"
I shake my head and note down the information.
The man smiled as he got up from where he was standing and moved to stand next to the girl.
"Either way I truly am thankful for your help but we should part ways, don't want to take each other's prey right."
I nodded before getting up myself. It had been a long rest relative to the time allotted and I didn't want to waste anymore time on chit chatting.