23 Cooperation

Alex and Lyssia didn't care about talking anymore as they heard the voice of Charles inside their minds.

'Battle Royale!!!!'.

Before they could say anything, the dragon head disappeared again and this time a spatial gate appeared. After that, a huge light started coming out of the gate and coiling around itself in the sky.

It took almost 5 minutes until the light stopped coming and the spatial gate disappeared. During that time, no one spoke as they just continued gazing at what is coming from there.

Finally, the light started shaping itself into a long serpentine figure with two hands, two legs, and a hugely long tail. It was at that moment that the light shattered and something magnificent appeared

*Roar*

A beastly roar was heard all over the pace together with a white eastern dragon appearing from the shattered light. Everyone covered their ears with their hands because of how terrifying the roar was.

The white eastern dragon didn't care about the people in the ground and started flying higher and at the same time, the heavens started also changing as lightning started forming the sky and showed more of the dragon greatness and majesty.

The dragon has golden horns and four golden feathers around his white hair. His long white skin has red like blood scales coming out of his back and a red line going from his neck till his tail which is mixed between red and white.

The dragon growl made everybody ears hurt but it also showed how intimidating he can be but how his presence can overwhelm anyone. The dragon started looking at all the people on the ground with his deep blood-like eyes.

AN: [you can imagine how the dragon in dragon ball gets out. it's practically the same without dark clouds and just lightning. Also, he came out of a gate. https://pin.it/e6wxyevszlwqjg].

He gave them a disdainful look as he scanned over all the people. Finally, he spoke and said, "For those who came to challenge this..."

Before the dragon could continue speaking, Alex interrupted him and said, "Wow....what a dramatic entrance. It's right what they say about dragons, they really like acting cool and always act almighty but isn't it like a big drag to do that each time".

Everybody couldn't say anything but they all had one idea in their min, '...WHAT THE HELL!DO YOU WANT ALL OF US TO DIE!'

Everybody felt terrified as they couldn't think what the dragon would do to them because of Alex interrupting the dragon in the middle of his speech. The dragon and everyone turned at Alex who was standing on one of the trees and stared at him.

Unfortunately, It wasn't just Alex who's the crazy one in this group because immediately after that, Lyssia sighed and looked at the dragon and looked back at Alex and then told him.

Lyssia: "Is everything a drag for you??? Look you interrupted the poor dragon from doing his awesome speech".

Everyone: "YOU ALSO DID THE SAME!".

They all felt their soul leave their body when they heard Lyssia also talking. They really thought that if it happens again, the dragon might strike them with lightning. Of course, neither of them didn't care about the dragon or all those people's reactions around them.

Alex then spoke again and said, "Of course. Aside from living in a beautiful mansion with a beautiful woman and drinking and eating every day, then yes, pretty much everything is a drag"

Lyssia raised her eyebrow and just stared at Alex and thought about his so-called dream and then said, "Sigh, why all men dream about something like that? Are you really the legendary youngest Great Kingdom knight. You're just a pervert guy who wants money".

"Hmmmm, excuse me but can you let me continue. I'm here to talk about the first trial"

When Everybody heard the deep majestic voice behind them asking politely so he can continue, all of them felt completely surprised. they only thought about one thing, 'Where is your dignity Man? at least show some respect to that deep majestic voice'.

Alex who heard that scratched the back of his head and then said, "Sorry about that. You can continue. Please, forgive this woman for doing all of this".

Lyssia was surprised by what Alex said and she immediately retorted back "Me?!.... It was you who interrupted him for the first time if you forgot so all I did was to let the dragon have the chance to continue".

This time, the dragon didn't care about their little conversation and just ignored them as he continued his speech, "Ahem...As I said, Oh Challengers, I am the Great Dragon Spirit Dian Long and I will be the one to oversee this trial. As I said before, this trial is a battle royale between 2000 people. I will say it now, but if someone doesn't forfeit then it will be either victory or death because only 500 people will survive out of you for the second trial".

*Gulp*

Everybody heard him but no one dared to say anything as they just let him continue, Dian Long then said, "If you forfeit now then you will be teleported back to the canyon and you can go and leave safely but if you stay then you must be prepared to die".

All of this information made the people very afraid but also helpless as they can't decide between life and their greed. Alex who was silent started talking, "I have some questions?".

Dian Long: "You can ask anything that is related to the trial and nothing else".

Alex nodded and said, "Then, When will the first trial start? Can you explain more about the trial? and finally, Are all the groups seeing the same projection of the dragon in front of us?".

Dian Long who heard what the man said, just looked at him in silence but then he said, "You're a smart one. As expected of the one who passed the question test first.

As I said, the trial is gonna happen right here in this forest. This forest is only a part of a big island flying in the sky. In other terms, all of you right now are on a sky island".

Random Person A: "Did he say sky island???".

Random Person B: "Yes, he said that's it's a sky island. I don't believe it. It's really a flying island!!!".

Random Person C: "Wait, I thought that only the Madokun magic academy is the only place that was built on a flying island in the whole continent but who thought that there will be other sky islands".

Dian Long Long who heard that scuffed at how stupid these people are and then he said, "The first trial will start after you agree to something first and also another thing. Yes, all the other 24 groups are seeing the same thing which is my spirit form and not my true body. unfortunately, you're the fifth one to discover this".

Alex just shrugged his shoulders and said, " I never thought of it as a contest and honestly, it was an easy thing to see because I don't feel life energy from you".

Dian Long: "hmmm, you can feel Aura. that's interesting".

Lyssia thought about something and then said, "Then let me ask another question. Is there any kind of reward for the one who comes first in this trial?".

Dian Long looked at her and then smirked and smiled as he said with some disdain in his time, "No. you have to survive and nothing else. If you want a reward, then consider living as one".

Lyssia didn't reply and just hmphed. Dian Long then said to all of them, "You have one minute to decide whether you want to continue or not. After that, a Magic shield will be created in a diameter of 30 km".

After one minute, no one decided to leave and just waited for Dian Long to start the trial. After all, be answering Saint Charles's previous question, they showed how courageous and brave to the point of risking their lives for their greed and goals. All of them looked determined to survive and take the treasure for themselves.

Dian Long just nodded and "It seems like all of you decided to stay. I must say that I admire your courage and also your resolve. Seems like all of you truly earned it to be here and willing to have strength even if you know you're dying in the process. For me, all of you are good enough".

All of them felt happy as they heard Dian Long praising them and then sighed as they became less nervous. He then started talking about the first trial, the battle royale.

"Now, for this trial, all of you will have a number on his hand. The numbers are from 1 till 2000. You win by taking the corresponding pair number. For example, the number '1' will be paired '2000'. Number '2' will be with '1999' and so on. You can either kill your enemy or take his hand or just make him give you his number as it will appear in your hand if he wants. In the end, you must have two numbers with you. The moment you lose your number, you will be teleported back to the Canyon and If you die then your body will stay in this forest forever".

Alex thought about and then said, "But then, there will be one thousand people remaining? didn't you say there will only remain five hundred people"

Dian Long who heard that smiled and said, "Yes. In the end, the remaining one thousand will have to battle among each other until five hundred remains. Of course, if by the end of the trial only five hundred remain then there will be no massacre but I highly doubt that so just do your best. The trial will end exactly after 5 days from now"

Before anyone could ask more, Dianlong announced the start and said, "I Dian Long, announce the beginning of the First Trial right now and may the best of you survive".

The dragon then rose in the sky even higher and started turning into golden light again. After that, the light disappears together with lightning and everything returns to normal. All of them looked at each other and then at their hands.

"Argh, give your number. I am 1300 and I need your number 701. Give it to me now". The first one to speak was a random guy who found the one he needs to take his number and they immediately started fighting.

Another person also started fighting and said, "Hey, you have my corresponding number. Give it to me and I won't kill you".

*Boom* *swoosh* *Shing*

Swords, Spells, arrows, and all kinds of attacks. It didn't take long for things to get ugly as people started acting crazy, fighting in the middle of the forest, and everybody searching for his corresponding number. Alex looked at his hand and found that the number was 47.

Alex: "That means, I need to find number 1954. Shit, I don't really have luck in number huh. it's always like this these days".

Alex then looked around the battlefield and noticed Lyssia who was just standing there doing nothing. He then thought about something for a second and then smiled as he jumped from the tree

*Swoosh*

Lyssia also looked at her hand and saw her number, "Oh, my number is 8 so that means.....I need to find numbeeerrrr..."

"Its number 1993".

"Yes. 1993 great. thank you....", Lyssia who heard that smiled and turned to thank the guy before being surprised and then immediately jumping away from him.

*Swoosh*

It was Alex who just jumped from the tree and got in front of Lyssia to speak with her but she tried to escape from him thinking that he might want her number. Alex didn't try to go after her and just looked for a moment and then smiled.

Alex: "Since our corresponding numbers are in the nineteen hundreds, then how about a little cooperation. We also can take all the numbers we find in our way so that we can get less competition. If you find my number you can give it to me and the same for me. What do you think??".

Lyssia stood there when she heard him and thought about it for a moment and then said, " Okay then, I accept. we will try to get as many numbers as possible and meet here after a day".

Alex: "No problem".

_________________

On the northern part of the island where ice is everywhere and a huge white snow mountain is towering over everything, this was also the location of the trial of group 8 which Saya belongs to.

It was in the middle of a storm and yet the dragon Dianlong still didn't leave as he saw the whole side of the mountain dyed with the blood of many people as almost all of them are cut in half.

Dian Long: "Young man. You went too far. You killed almost all of them. How are you going to do in the second trial".

The Dragon was talking to the young man who was in the middle of the red snow. The young man looked like a demi-human and was wearing a dark blue tuxedo and an orange tie. He has blue hair and blue wolf ears.

AN: [With wolf ears. https://pin.it/kwuigblc3dqism]

"Well, Lizard. you didn't say that they needed to stay alive. You needed five hundred and you got something that is comparable to two thousand people combined".

Dian Long: " At least, two is better than nothing so I declare the end of the first Trial for group 8".

The young man became puzzled as he didn't understand what he meant by two but then Dian Long declared, "two contestants survived from group 8. Number 456 and number 44".

Suddenly, Saya who was hiding under the snow got up and was completely terrified from what she saw as the young demi-human killed all those people with a hand swipe. She only survived because she used a spell to get under the snow a moment before his attack.

*Swoosh*

The young man jumped and disappeared as he moved very fast and appeared in front of Saya and then used his hand as he turned his nails into claws and directly attacked Saya's face.

Saya: 'No. someone, please save me'.

*Boooom*

A barrier appeared around Saya as it protected her from the young man's attack. When he saw the barrier, the young man jumped away and then turned back at Dian Long and looked at him and asked, "Why did you protect her?".

As the snow continued to fall, lightning started gathering around his hands. Dianlong seemed to become a little angry as he looked at him.

"Young man!!! Don't overestimate yourself. I said that the trial ended which means, there will be no more killing. If you try to do that again, I will kill you. Don't forget, even though I am just a spirit form, I can still use lightning attacks to finish you".

The young man didn't say anything and just turned and looked at Saya who is still trembling from the fear that she almost got killed.

"Hmph. You have a bit of heavenly luck. You survived my attack. you can tell people that you survived a massacre created by me, the nameless titan number 8".