"The should be the cave." Connor said looking at a cave as they took cover in some bushes not far away from it. The quartet looked at the cave before coming up with a plan. Inside, resided a A rank fiery brown bear. Such creatures were known to be slow but hard to take down not to mention they can release a tremendous amount of aura quickly immobilizing their opponents. They usually live in solitude and are more active during the night so attacking it right now could be advantageous. "If we succeed, then I'm sure that we'll top this test for sure." Ciara commented.
They would set up a series of traps on the outside and lay, ready to ambush it while one of them opted to go inside to take it by surprise and taking advantage of it while in this state have an easier time to take it down. And if things didn't work out then Bruce would be forced to intervene and take it on though it wouldn't count as their target as they didn't subdue it. "Alright, let's get this started. I can't wait to see the look on Luke's face when he loses." Elaine stated with zeal just waiting to break Luke's face when they had taken down a A rank monster.
They quickly got into their positions and the ball started rolling. It all went according to plan save for one part, they seemed to have underestimated a A rank beast as it's soul crushing aura proved too difficult for them to make any sudden movements. Since there were teachers present,Bruce couldn't mask them with his aura shielding them,only spectating from the sidelines. The setback was small but this didn't hinder them from enacting the full part of their plan. The only problem now was taking the bear down,it was too tanky for them to handle. They made their move with their most powerful attacks yet it remained standing with minimal injuries on its fur.
"This isn't working. If we want to take this down then we'll have to make a gamble." Connor said as he looked at the two ladies who were breathing rather raggedy. 'I guess I have to use that move.' He urged the ladies to step back and distract the beast with long ranged attacks while he will push forward and execute it. "We've all given it your best so wrapping this up and reevaluating your plan is still probable. Bruce advised as he continued to watch them proceed with caution. Since the two ladies didn't have a plan,they were quite eager to see what Connor had in store.
*Hump-Hahh*
He took in deep breathes as a small streak of blood trickled down his nose. Suddenly he made his move moving at fifty times his original speed taking everyone by surprise. Thanks to the girls efforts,the beast was distracted unable to see Connor coming straight for him as it was accustomed to them moving much slower.
A powerful B rank move that could rival a lower A ranker and cause alarm to a middle A ranker was released straight for the bear. Coupling this with his time paradox edge he had,the potency of the attack was increased tenfold heading straight for the bear's heart to claim it's life. Of course the bear wasn't completely blind to Connor's attack as it quickly gave out a deafening roar which was meant to startle and possibly injure Connor but it seemed that it had gone for an afterimage and the real Connor was actually aiming for it's head.
*Crack*
The skull of the bear cracked but the bear still clinging onto it's now dwindling life released a monstrous aura in the last attempt to preserve it's life. The damage was too great for it to recover and would die eventually,it was just a matter of time. Connor stepped back and told the two ,"The bear will go in a state of frenzy trying to kill everything in it's path. So try to take it down for aiming for it's head." The girls nodded and the three surrounded the bear releasing a cascade of attacks on it without stopping which was a rather daunting and taxing task for them. After their well synchronized attacks paid off,the bear finally fell with a huge thud to the ground as it was drenched in blood.
The task took a toll on their bodies as Connor immediately collapsed on the ground,still conscious as for Elaine,she was breathing heavily and Ciara was laying on the ground trying to regain her bearings. They were filled with their own blood as the indomitable suppressing A rank aura from the bear had taken it's toll on them but they were delighted to finally subdue it. Bruce watched over them as they continued to recuperate commending them on their valiant efforts. Reaping the benefits,the trio beamed with joy now waiting the test out as they had already amassed a lot of points not to mention,they were still in the forest and moving in their current state was clearly a problem.
'Can't wait to see the look on Luke's face.' Connor thought in his mind.
...
[{1st: Connor with 12890× points}]
[{2nd: Elaine with 12320× points}]
[{3rd:Ciara with 12100× points}]
[{4th:Host with 14690 points}]
[{5th: Nigel with 12950 points}]
[{6th: Elspeth with 12490 points}]
The sudden increase in Elspeth's points so fast while they were still enjoying their moment together was that the panther was hunting for her. From actively taking down other beasts to taking out other students before they could react and stealing from their corpses by biting off their hands where the spatial rings were. Sure it was cheating but he didn't care. After their love making session was over,Luke and Elspeth headed out towards four A rank monsters. They were all deers but it was their swiftness and agility that made them hard to catch.
Obviously the panther could at least be able to take down one but Luke wanted all four. Good thing the teachers diverted their attention elsewhere during their moment in heat. And due to that Elspeth was still having trouble standing so she couldn't participate in the hunt. He summoned four vials of green liquids before shooting them at the four deers with precision and deadly accuracy. The effects would take place even before the deer felt the toxin in their bodies. It wasn't poison as he didn't want to risk damaging the core due to poisoning of the heart which was close rather it was tranquilizer darts. The panther on Luke's orders made it's appearance scaring off the deer.
The panther would chase one, Elspeth one and Luke two and thanks to the effects,the deers' speed would decrease in a short amount of time and they'd fall unconscious. The two made their move as Luke chased down the two forcing them to stay together as he pelted them with his doses till they gave way and collapsed. He quickly harvested their cores before leaving with the carcasses. He didn't need them but to show proof for his efforts,he carried them anyway. The panther was able to easily keep up with the deer before poaching it and took a bite of it's heart and core carrying it in it's mouth to Luke totaling to three A rank cores. Luke on the panther easily caught up to Elspeth who had already neutralized the last deer and claiming the core.
Elspeth sensed two individuals heading straight for him and seeing that they were in danger, she paused and waited to save them as they moved as if they were lost and to think that she would run into the duo that abandoned her was crazy. The two after emerging from the dense and forest.
"Help!! Please help us!!" The two came yelling like mad men before they stumbled upon her with a A rank carcass not far from her feet. "Elspeth. You're alive." The two asked in unison before they realized the carcass. Immediately diverting their focus from their worries to the carcass,Carl ordered ,"How were you able to take down a A rank monster? That's not important,just hand over the core and I'll compensate it for you. With it,I can be able to rest easy for the rest of the competition." He gave a depraved laughter as he held out his hand but Elspeth simply looked at him with a cold look and started walking away. "Are you deaf? Hand over the core." She didn't look back and kept on walking.
Like a bucket of cold water washing over them,they realized the reason why they were running and started running in her direction before she suddenly stopped looking down upon them. "Why are you following me? Maybe you should go a different path to ensure your survival." She joked looking at the two who were cowering in fear. She noted their cause of fleeing before commenting ,"It's still the same pack. How are you still alive?" Jasper retorted ,"After splitting up. We were able to escape them but only for a short time before they found us again. It is within your obligation to help us as that is what was stated in the regulations." Elspeth looked at them before Luke appeared. The unrefutable aura exuded was too domineering for the pack to press on further and if they really wanted to proceed,then he didn't mind.
"I came to check up on your hunt and it seems fruitful." He glanced to the side noting Carl and Jasper who were terrified of his presence not to mention the panther he rode on. "Friends of yours?" He inquired to which she laughed it off. "Not at the very least." He advanced on his panther before realizing their earlier conversation. "It would seem that the two of you are in dire need of mana cores and I'm more than glad to help you." The two looked at Luke with a startled expressions. "We knew that you would help us unlike this wretch." His face covered in disgust but it twisted to portray pain and agony. It was Luke's sword imbedded in his knee.
"AAARGGHH!"
He writhed in pain as he hadn't anticipated that Luke would be so violent. "I'm not a fan of addressing to my subordinates as wretch. So not only will you ask for forgiveness,you will do it in the most demeaning way possible." He ordered as he gave a small laugh. The two aware of the circumstance they were in could only do as instructed. They went to her and made a humiliating bow as they asked for forgiveness and stood up only to have their knees cut off kneeling once more. "You have to do it till she is satisfied. And lick her boots while you're at it." The two were consumed by rage but in a world where power came out on top,they could only succumb to their fate.
Elspeth found it somehow amusing that the person who was addressing her as trash was kneeling before her licking her boots. She kicked him in the face marking it with her boot imprint and said in a satisfied manner. "I've had enough of your apologies. You can get put of my sight." 'So this was control.' She mused in her head finding this pleasurable. The two could only crawl away before Luke brought out two healing potions and threw a considerable distance away form them. "Go and get it. Fucking wretch." He spat as he held Elspeth's dainty hand onboard of the panther. Carl and Jasper could only see as she got on the panther and Carl sneered in pain ,"Because you're protected makes you think you're invicible. I'll have my revenge Elspeth on you and your family."
He said as he continued to crawl towards the potion tarnishing his lavish clothing in mud and dirt. "Are you afraid of what he'll do Elspeth?" Luke asked as they headed towards the exit. "Yes. My mother is ailing,my older brother wasting our money on getting drunk with the money he earns." Luke laughed it off. "Elspeth. What did I tell you? I don't like seeing my subordinates suffer so I'll call in a little help for you and your family. As for Carl,he shouldn't bother you much after today." Elspeth gave out a small sigh of relief as she leaned back on Luke's body feeling a sense of comfort without a care in the world. The two obviously couldn't make it out with the panther as it would attract too much attention so they left it in the forest before it returned disappearing.
Along with other students they made their exit safely outside and waited for the rest of the students to emerge out. Some came out with injuries of all sorts with few completely unscathed but they were all completely exhausted. And finally the awaited trio made it's long waited appearance. With the teachers making their appearance,they collected all the spatial rings from the students and began the announcements.