[+15]
[+15]
[+15]
[+15]
Asher took the points that were on a silver platter, before finally resting in a dark area.
[+10]
[Ding]
[Question 14: what are the ranking scales?]
A holographic screen appeared in front of Asher, two minutes had passed since he answered the previous one.
Not every Saint was equal in strength, some people had better genetics, while others worked hard. Thus creating disparity in their levels.
Those levels in ascending order were; Apprentice, super-human, evolver, Candidate, Master, Grandmaster, and Saint. Saint was a generalised term to describe a person on any of these levels but it was also a level.
Asher filled his answer and returned to his rest, time slowly passed.
[+12]
[Ding]
[Question 15: How many Demon races are there?]
A question popped up that made Asher frown.
Demon was a generalised term that included multiple other races and those races had multiple sub-races. Asher didn't have much information on this topic, so he answer the things that came to mind.
"There's the Succubus; the Fallen Angels, Orcs, Goblins, Undead, beast-kin, and the most troublesome, the devils." Asher submitted his answer.
'Wait I also forgot vampires, *sigh*.'
Looking at the starry sky, Asher lost himself for a sec.
Roughly half the time has passed, and I can still get more points, regardless the one's from the questions.
Not knowing if the was minimum requirement and the thought of him failing after coming this far, motivated him.
After but of rest, his body was still in pain but he got up and went north, returning to the village.
*Roar*
From the south, a roar came, shaking the tree and scaring away the birds.
"Looks like there's more then just Goblins and Orcs.Glad I'm not heading that way." Asher glanced back and promptly made his way to the village.
[+5]
[Question 16. How man races are fighting the demons]
"Another on of these questions." Asher sighed at his misfortune, he could only blame himself for not knowing.
Besides the humans, other races that fought demons were, Angels, Elves, Dwarves, etc. These were the only ones Asher could remember.
*sigh*
He closed the screen, and looked at the village.
The Goblin corpses were placed in a pile on their own. Not far besides them, a couple of mounds were seen on the ground.
There were some humans gathered around the fire, treating their injuries.
"Savior over here! Thanks for saving us." Seeing Asher walk over, the young man promptly bowed. He was covered in bandages.
The other humans also bowed to Asher, despite him being younger then them.
Asher responded with a nod, after all, these people weren't real.
"Saviour, I was wondering, does your journey take you to Breyten? Cause that's where we're headed too." The young man looked at Asher eagerly.
"Breyten?"
"Yeah it's a city located south from here. You see, the village belonging to these people was invaded by monsters, so the city Lord sent us to exterminate them and rescue the citizens." The young man spoke solemnly.
He continued, "Sadly we arrived a bit late, all we could do was follow the trails left behind, and we arrived here. Before we could plan a rescue, we were ambushed by these goblins."
'The academy also added plot and lore, seems wasteful if we only stay here for an hour.' Asher sat down, looking at the young man.
"How far is this place?" Asher inquired.
"It's about twenty kilometres to the south."
'That's at least a 45 minute walk, and considering there's injured people, it will take longer and I won't have enough time.' Asher thought to himself.
His gaze turned south,'There's also that roar I heard from earlier. Greater dangers then the Goblins.'
"I'm sorry but I can't help you." Asher shook his head.
Hearing his words, the young man's expression fell, the people around them also lowered their heads.
"Ohh, your not heading there huh! It's okay you've helped us enough." The young man forced out a smile.
Just as the place fall silent...
"Bullshit! You have to help us! How are we suppose to return on our own?" A young man in his early teens, with blond hair shouted.
He was also wearing tattered armour but his looked sturdier, despite being destroyed and covered in dirt and blood.
The teen continued, "You have to get us to Breyten! How can you claim to help people! When you only help them halfway!"
Hearing the young man's words, the people around the fire slowly nodded, none of them wanted die. The thought of the strongest person leaving, didn't sit well with them.
"Have to?" Asher frowned, glancing at the teen, and then the people.
"Yes you have too! I'm clearly older then you so you have to listen to m-"
"Enough!" The young man interjected.
"Sir, I apologieze for his words. We're very much greatful for you help." He bowed towards Asher.
"Nate, don't you dare silence me! Your not my father! Youve already gotten the others killed, just how do you plan to get us across the Gorrila and wolf territories, huh?" The teen continued his barrage of words, each question louder then the previous one's.
Hearing that, the young man hung his head low.
The teen pointed towards Asher, "And you, name your prize, my father is the city Lord and can give you any thing you want, as long as you bring me back alive."
Asher silently stared at the teen.
Most people didn't appreciate being told what to do, much less commanded.
"Oh, and if I don't agree, what will you do?" Asher brought out his other hand that was holding the machete. He was irritated by the kid to say the least, and didn't mind gaining a few points.
Seeing the machete, everyone tensed up, they involuntarily thought of scene with the Orc.
*Gulp*
The teen eyed the machete but ultimately said nothing, his slightly audible heartbeat and sweat on his forehead, was evident of his fear.
Asher got up and left, these people didn't thank him after receiving his help, and they still wanted more from him.
"Oh Sir, oh Sir.!"
Just as Asher was walking towards a small hut, he saw a mother and her daughter walking towards him.
"Sir, thank you very much for saving me and my daughter!" The woman said lowering her head.
"Thank you sir." The girl imitated her mother and lowered her head.
"No problem." Asher responded while walking past them.
"C'mon honey let's go." The woman beckoned her daughter and walked towards the campfire.
Asher stopped and glanced back at them, he looked at his palms, repeatedly opening and closing them, before looking at the sky.
The star's twinkled, a shooting star shot across the star.
*Sigh*
After a while of looking at the sky, Asher sighed.
'Maybe I'm too soft!'
[+9]
[Ding]
[Question 17: Why do you want to be a Saint?]
'Now I'm convinced that they are watching us!' Asher looked at the screen and gave a generic answer.
Turning around, he walked towards the campfire.
"In two minutes, I'll be heading towards Breyten." Asher left these words before heading towards the other huts.
Hearing these words, the people were exhilarated.
"Quickly, prepare everything we'll need." The young man immediately calmed himself.
In a room filled with multiple screens.
"That wasn't part of the questions." The woman complained.
"What does that say about his character." Mr. Dandy nodded repeatedly.
"Hmph! Fine I was wrong about him, but that doesn't mean I approve of his methods."
Mr. Dandy smiled while looking at another screen,
"Looks like this year has other interesting candidates."
....
[+12]
[Question 18: What are the different types of Saints?]
'The should be four types of Saints, those that use mana to enhance their physique then, those that use mana to create spells, also know as mages. The third is a bit special, known as mutant Saints, they had an innate ability that allowed them to do a variety of single purpose tasks, example, telekinesis.'
Asher crudely recalled as they could.
'Last and maybe the least, is the divinity saints. These saints are so rare that no record of their existence exists. The only reason why it's ever mentioned, is because the origin church insisted that it existed.'
After giving his answer, Asher looked at the group in front of him.
There were fifteen people in total, four women and a little girl, plus nine men, five of which were soldiers, the group's age varied.
They each held a weapon and were wearing small leather-armour. The armours were stitched together to form a bigger armour.
"Lead the way captain, and be quickly." Asher looked at the young man he'd saved.
"Yes, yes." The captain hesitant nodded with a subtle smile on his face.
"Okay everyone, get into formation!" The young captain order before hastily leading the way.
The group departed, disappearing into the thick jungle.
Asher and the captain were in front, along with the son of the city Lord. The women and child walked in the middle, surrounded by the men and nights.
The path was partially lit by the night sky, yet the coverage from the trees made it slightly darker, making it difficult to navigate the terrain.
Luckily, they were carrying torches, so it wasn't that dark. So the moved forward, clearing the excessive leaves in the way.
"So what obstacle will we come across?" Asher inquired.
He recalled hearing the young teen mention Wolves and Gorrilas. It was always smarter to go into any situation with some level of information.
"Oh yeah, a few kilometres/miles ahead, there's gonna be a path that leads straight to the city of Breyten. The path acts like a divider between two territories, the tree Wolves and the hunched-back Gorrilas. The whole road is relatively safe..." The Captain explained in a low voic and trailed of in the end.
He didn't want to frighten the young man, but he also didn't want to hide something from him.
He hesitated and added, "The problem is that, both territories are opposite each other, and in some cases, the wolves and gorrilas fight each other on the road. Luckily or unluckily, we might get hunted by either of these monsters."
"What does that mean?"
"Well, the Wolves often frequent the night, meanwhile the Gorrilas are usually active by the day, but this is never consistent." The captain elaborated.
Asher frowned, the danger of this mission was quite high. A choice between the lesser of two evils.
"Between the two groups, which is stronger and more of a problem to deal with?" He inquired.
"They are both somewhat similar. Strength-wise the Gorillas are stronger and smarter but the wolves are faster and cunning but most frightening, they have a larger number." The young captains voice shook when speaking about the wolves as if recalling something terrifying.
Asher's frown deepened. This wasn't a choice between the lesser of two evils, it was either evil or evil.
"Is going around or taking another path not an option?" Asher asked.
"Breyten is located in a rural area. If we tried to go around, we'd travel a long distance just to avoid dangers, but that on it's own is dangerous as there are many other territories besides each other." The young captain shook his head.
"How does you city even survive like that" Asher grumbled and fell into contemplation, this was undoubtedly a sticky situation these people were in.
"We mostly farm and well, the Merchants are coming less and less each year." The young captain mumbled in a low voice.
[+10]
[Ding]
[Question 19: What are magical beast?]
A series of notification brought Asher out of his thoughts.
Besides the demons in their territories, there were also magical beast, roaming around. Unlike demons, magical beast behaved like animals, and just lived their lives.
Unlike animals though, magical beast could use mana, and their strengths also varied.
Asher recalled an incident, where a lion destroyed a shelter, with a single roar. He answered the question and closed the screen.
"Okay, everyone, put out your torches." The young captain said after a few moments of walking.
"Wait! Why?" The blond teen suddenly exclaimed when he saw the others extinguishing the torches.
The darkness brought with it, an aspect that the light didn't, that was uncertainty which was associated with evil and discomfort.
"Because, we're leaving the Goblins territory and about to reach the path." The young captain explained, as he extinguished his torch.
At this point, the are was close to dark, their vision, almost blind to anything a few meters/feet away.
Everyone had blown out their torches, except for the blond teen.
"How are we gonna see the monsters if it's dar-" The blond teen quickly tried to persuade but his words fell flat.
"Remember, I don't have time." Asher used his machete to slice the blond teens torch, without stopping.
They continued moving forward, this time in complete darkness.
The sounds of insects in the night time was a little unsettling, causing everyone to hasten up, their heads moving like a bobble head.
[+10]
[Ding]
[Question 20: What use is there in hunting magical beast.]
'Besides their flesh being delicious and filled with mana, they improve a persons health. Not only can their bodies be used to craft weapons, but scientist study them to improve medical science.' Asher recalled what the textbook said, also recalling his goal to eat some when he had the money.
'Some of their pelts can be made into armour, and hunting them decreases their chances of destroying cities.' Asher recalled some more, before closing the screen.
"We're finally here." The young Captain's words drew Asher's attention.
There were fewer and fewer vegetation, the road beneath was more even. The other side of the road had similar trees but they were spread apart.
"Breyten is a few kilometres/miles that way, and the monster territories begin a few meters/feet ahead." The young man pointed to the south.
"Wait."
Just as they started moving forward, Asher stopped everyone.
"Earlier you said that the merchants stopped coming to your city, do you know the cause." Asher looked at the captain.
"Yeah, over the years, a lot of them kept getting attacked, one after the other, and currently their numbers and frequent are decreasing each year." The young captain explained.
"And you guys mostly farm correct?"
"Yes."
Asher fell into contemplation, until he nodded.
"Do you know if there's any water source nerby?" Asher asked, with realization on his face.
"Yeah, the just so happens to be a river to the north, and it stretches from the west to the east, pardon me but why are you asking?" The captain was still confused by the change of events.
"Strangely convenient! Okay let's go there quickly, I don't have much time." Asher led the way this time.
Casted by multiple gazes, the captain was hesitant but he ultimately followed Asher. "Remember to stay in formation." he ordered.
Everyone caught up and the captain asked, "I'm sorry, but why are we headed to the river?"
"Bea- Monsters and animals have a stronger sense of smell and currently most of you are covered in blood." Asher explained with slowing down.
"Oh we're going to wash away the smell of blood." The young teen interjected.
"Yes and no. A wet person still smells. Your going to have to cover up with mud and leaves." Asher corrected.
Quickly, they heard the sound of running water, before coming towards a 5 meters wider river, with a wooden bridge.
"Okay everyone, we don't have much time, quickly clean up and cover yourselves with mud." The captain informed everyone.
[+12]
[Ding]
[Question 30: Who are the angels.]
'Being the direct servants of the origin God, the angels are his messengers.' Asher recalled from his knowledge.
"But Mommy, the water is cold." The young girl cried to her mother.
Seeing the mother comfort her daughter, Asher reminded, "If the monsters, catches a whiff of you, you will all die."
Hearing his words, the others, started washing their whole bodies properly, the mother also comforted her daughter but still washed her properly.
"Remember to cover yourselves with mud and leaves."
"Yeah, but why aren't yo..." The young captain wanted to respond but the person he was talking too was gone.
Not only that, he seemed to forget, who he was talking to. Everything seemed like a blur, not only him, but everyone here.
The young captain didn't dwell on it too much, he had pressing matters to attend to, not only did he need to guide everyone through a dangerous path but he had to ensure that they arrived safely.