Without anyone noticing, more than half an hour passed. One by one, those who had managed to escape the monsters' pursuit entered the safe zone, breathing heavily.
Many appeared pale, fear still etched on their faces. It was easy to imagine how terrible and terrifying that first task had been.
Seeing their condition, Merlin couldn't help but smile, shaking his head in mild pity.
"They all seem to be suffering more than I am," he murmured with a faint smile.
Although he had nearly been hit by a fireball from that damn dragon, his condition was still quite good. Not a single thread of his clothes was torn, only a few stains from rolling on the ground earlier.
On the other hand, the others looked miserable. Many had injuries, their clothes were torn, and some even had bloodstains on their backs and other parts of their bodies.
"Is all this due to the influence of the [LCK] attribute?" Merlin wondered to himself.
Of all the attributes, [LCK] was the most mysterious, one he had yet to fully comprehend. According to Quinella's earlier explanation, the [LCK] attribute represented one's luck—the higher the number, the greater the luck.
This attribute helps clear the path for someone to rise and become a powerful figure in the future. In addition, those with a high [LCK] attribute are believed to be favored by the gods.
Death, misfortune, and calamities seem almost incapable of touching them. Even in large-scale disasters, people with high [LCK] have a great chance of surviving, demonstrating just how extraordinary this attribute is.
Merlin couldn't comprehend why he had such a high [LCK] attribute along with a mythic-level talent. However, he didn't dwell on it. As long as it benefited him, that was enough.
Merlin glanced up and saw that the participant count, which had previously been [4/19], had now changed to [18/19]. Only one more participant remained, and once they entered, the safe zone would be sealed.
"Will the number of participants reach nineteen or stay at eighteen?" Merlin wondered, observing the situation outside.
The monsters dared not approach within five meters of the safe zone, and most chose to disperse once they realized they couldn't reach the people inside.
Within a hundred-meter radius, no other participants were visible, and Merlin concluded that this safe zone might not be fully occupied.
As Merlin closed his eyes, preparing to wait for the end of the first task, a woman's desperate cry suddenly pierced the air from outside.
"Help! They're after me!"
The cry was so loud it immediately drew the attention of everyone in the safe zone, including Merlin.
They all turned toward the source of the voice and saw a woman of stunning beauty.
Her face, impossibly lovely, carried a mature charm tinged with a touch of youthful innocence, like a freshly ripened apple. Her large, round eyes were a striking shade of purple, while her long hair, also purple, cascaded down her waist, held in place by a golden dragon-shaped hairpin.
She wore a traditional purple hanfu adorned with white patterns, and her slender, curvaceous figure was impossible to conceal.
In an instant, many of the men inside the safe zone were captivated by her beauty. They wanted to rush out and help, but the terrifying sounds of the monsters quickly shattered their resolve.
The memory of the relentless pursuit by the monsters was still fresh in their minds. Though the woman was undoubtedly breathtaking, none of them dared to risk their lives for her.
"That woman is truly beautiful..." Merlin murmured softly, narrowing his eyes.
Compared to Sherlin's cold and composed beauty, the woman's allure was more mature, yet there remained a childlike charm on her face that hadn't quite faded.
Driven by curiosity, Merlin parted his lips and murmured, "Status."
[Status]
[—Name—: Shen Ling'er]
[—Age—: 19 years old]
[—Traits/Characteristics—: Shy, Insecure, Honest, Fond of Cute Things, and Admiring of Brave Figures]
[—Title—: -]
[—Level/XP—: 1 (0/100)]
[—HP/Mana—: 880/1600]
[—Class—: -]
[—Attributes/Talents—: 89 LCK (Legendary), 145 INT (Mythic), 101 CHA (Legendary), 35 AGT (Unique), 40 VIT (Epic), 29 END (Unique), 30 STA (Unique)]
[—Skills—: -]
[—Items—: -]
Instantly, the woman's status appeared before him, and Merlin was taken aback as he read it.
"This... this..." His jaw dropped in shock, and he quickly stood, his expression a mix of disbelief and awe.
The woman's status panel was extraordinary—surpassing even Sherlin's in its opulence!
She had two attributes, [CHA] and [LCK], both at the [Legendary] talent level, along with [INT] at the [Mythic] talent level. This was the first time Merlin had seen the [Mythic] talent level in someone other than himself.
What was even more surprising was that the [Mythic] talent wasn't in [CHA] or [LCK], like his own, but in [INT], indicating that this woman's magical potential was exceptional.
"If I can bring her into the team I plan to form, I'm certain I can complete this test. Plus, that woman, Shen Ling'er, is bound to become an incredibly powerful mage in the future. I can't afford to miss the chance to form a connection with her," Merlin mused, a faint, cunning smile playing on his lips.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Merlin shifted his gaze to Shen Ling'er, who was still being chased by the monsters.
Without a second thought, he assumed a stance and sprinted out of the safe zone toward her.
The others who witnessed Merlin's sudden movement were naturally shocked, but none attempted to stop him. After all, each person harbored selfish motives, and they were secretly pleased if one participant fell. That would only improve their chances of being one of the ten selected to enter the Altheran world.
However, one person was both surprised and concerned by Merlin's actions—Sherlin.
She wanted to intervene, but by the time she moved, Merlin had already vanished from sight.
"What is he planning to do?" Sherlin wondered aloud. Her gaze followed the path Merlin had taken, and then, realization struck.
"Is it because of that woman?"
***
*Roar!*
The monstrous roar from behind made Shen Ling'er shudder with fear. Her legs, weak with exhaustion, trembled, but she forced herself to keep running, never once daring to glance back.
She knew that looking back would only fuel her fear, draining the last of her strength.
"I don't want to die..." she whispered, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
In her previous world, she was the third daughter of a powerful dynasty in the plains of China. Her father, a revered emperor, commanded great respect, while her mother, a beautiful empress, was adored by all.
Her two older sisters were proud and talented princesses, admired for their extraordinary abilities. But Shen Ling'er, the third princess, had none of those gifts, which often left her feeling isolated.
She had hoped to prove to her family that she was not a useless princess, but her dream was shattered when, for reasons unknown, she was suddenly cast into this strange world and forced to complete a terrifying survival test.
"I can't die... I can't..." She whispered to herself, but suddenly, her right foot caught on a rock, sending her tumbling to the ground.
The sharp pain along her side made her gasp in agony.
Gritting her teeth, she lifted her head, only to find a monstrous, dog-like creature over three meters tall standing behind her. Its razor-sharp fangs and blood-red eyes, burning with murderous intent, froze her in terror.
The creature stared at her for a moment before raising its massive claws high and swiping them down toward her.
As she saw the claws descending, Shen Ling'er knew it was the end and closed her eyes in resignation.
"Is this how I die?"