29 The Hidden Tiger

Alex and Lyssia looked at the dragon who appeared after the last hour passed. Dianlong looked at the five hundred remaining from group 25 and started talking.

"I didn't expect you to finish the trial with less than twelve hundred participants and what's more, even reaching the five hundred persons. condition. It seems I underestimated your greediness and cruelty. Well, it's more because of the lazy guy and the dark Elf girl. They alone took fifteen hundred participants in these 5 days so remember to thank them"

All the five hundred remaining people looked at Lyssia and Alex as they became terrified of the idea of 2 persons taking more than one thousand participants.

The leader from the black market who was hiding among these people looked at Alex and Lyssia with hate. After all, because of both of them, he got injured and lost all his men.

"And so, as the examiner of the first trial, I, Lightning Dragon Dian Long announce the end of the first trial for group 25 and everyone present here qualifies for the second trial".

"Yeaeeaaaaahhhhh".

All the people felt happy as they survived the First trial and became a step closer towards the treasure of the great Saint treasure. They also felt as chosen ones.

This first trial eliminated eighty-two percent of the participants which means out of the fifty thousand participants, only nine thousand remained and this signified that there were groups who had less than five hundred people.

Of course, there's those who were very fortunate and found their corresponding number and despite being weaker, lady luck smiled to them and they got their ticket to the next trial.

After Dian Long announced the end of the first trial, The shield that was surrounding the whole trial area started disappearing and after that immediately, a spatial gate appeared in the center of the area.

After that, Dian Long's spirit form started turning into a golden light like last time but this time instead of disappearing, he started shrinking until he became like the little dragon who was in the tower.

"It's useless to say this since I am sure everyone wants to go but for those of you who wish to go to the second trial, you must know that only winning or death can make you leave this place. After you get to the next location, you'll have to wait for a couple of hours so that I can go to the other groups who have more than five hundred people. Goodbye and may fortune and strength be with you".

The moment Dian Long said that He turned into yellow light again and disappeared in the sky. The participants didn't waste time as they went through the gate. People started disappearing the moment they passed through the gate.

"So Are we going or not?".

Lyssia asked Alex who seemed absentminded and didn't care. She then started waving her hand and Alex finally noticed her.

"Ah, Lyssia, what were you saying?".

Lyssia didn't answer him and pointed at the gate behind her. He then understood what she meant and said to her.

"Let's go then. I was just thinking about something".

"What were you thinking about?". Lyssia asked Alex with a puzzled face as she rarely saw him that engrossed in something.

"Well, I was thinking about the second trial and the second examiner. I mean, they brought a dragon to do the first one and to top that they need to bring the angel hahahahaha".

"Ehhh.....what are you talking about??".

"I mean imagine, if they have a dragon, then they must have someone from the angels and perhaps even a female angel. A goddess will perhaps show up and I must prepare myself".

"Is this what you were thinking about???".

"Of course, I mean if you imagine meeting the beaut...what is it lyssia?"

"Hmph. You're definitely a pervert". Lyssia didn't wait for his reply as she left and entered the gate. Alex just smiled and shook his head. He then followed her and entered the gate.

"Women".

________________________

As Alex got out of the gate, he found in front of him the participants from his group but also people from other groups. He then understood that there are also other participants from other groups who finished the trial with five hundred people.

Alex searched for lyssia but didn't find her in front of the gate. He then looked around him and noticed that they were in what seemed like ruins of an ancient city. He then jumped to one of the buildings.

When he reached the rooftop of the building, he looked and found that it was a very big city and all its buildings and roads are entangled with plants everywhere.

"This ancient city must be very old. It has at least a hundred thousand year history to tell. Well, for now, I shall wait for the second examiner and ask him if possible".

Alex also noticed that some people did the same as him and started inspecting the place. What all of them noticed most is the big tall tower in the center of the city.

"Hmmmmmm, that city is interesting, don't you think so Alex?".

Alex who was concentrating on the tower didn't notice Somone getting behind him and when he heard the voice, He immediately jumped away and turned to see who it was.

He then found that it was a black-robed man hiding his face away. The man is very tall and you could only see his smile and nothing else. Alex didn't recognize him but he recognized someone else. He saw the executioner from the black market alliance standing behind the black-robed man respectfully and not doing anything. Alex felt like the guy was terrified and didn't even dare to utter a word.

Alex who understood what is happening immediately became guarded against any surprise attack as he said, "Well, will you look at that. I let you live and you go and bring a Titan back with you? Let me guess, you want to invite me to your guild".

When the executioner heard that, he became furious and was about to talk but the mysterious man raised his hand and stopped him from speaking and then said, "Well, that is one of the two things that I came to do here but first...."

The man didn't say anything but he then turned at the demi-human behind him and said to him, "Just because we gave you a bit of freedom doesn't mean that you can betray us whenever you want. We will always know when someone spills information about our organization and for that, you need to be punished".

"Guild Master....I can't.....under...stand.."

*cough* *cough*

The fox demi-human started coughing non-stop and he then looked at the blood that came out of his mouth which had purple color. The man didn't understand what is going with him but then he noticed his hands and his whole skin turning completely purple.

The man immediately fell in the ground and the only thing he could do was look at his guild master and say one word, "W....wh..when?"

The man didn't even look at him and didn't bother to answer as he just stared at him while the man was being eaten by the poison literally.

Finally, after a few more seconds, the man stopped breathing and moving and only a little bit of his corpse and bones remained. Alex who saw everything said, "Quite cruel of you I must say. You even tortured him while dying".

The man didn't say anything as a purple magic circle appeared behind him and then purple fluid started coming out of the circle and in one gulp, it swallowed the remains of the body and it started disintegrating. The body then disappeared and the poison fluid also went back to the magic circle disappearing with it.

Finally, the man turned and looked at Alex as he said, "I like to talk with intelligent people and I think that you're smart enough so let me make it clear for you. I am here to invite you to join my guild, the titan number 10 guild, Hollow darkness guild. Join me or die like him".

"Oh, I am very honored that a 1st-grade guild master is asking me to join but I am not interested and also I don't wanna end like your former subordinate and don't wanna have a disintegrated body at my funeral".

That smile that appeared on the man aka the 10th titan disappeared and he didn't care anymore, "Then I am sorry for you as the Greatest Kingdom Knight life will end here".

"....."

Alex felt the change of atmosphere around and felt the man giving a completely different vibe. The man raised his hand and then started chanting his spell

"Poison spell, Dark snake venom dagger".

Suddenly, a black-purple magic circle appeared again on The titan's hand but this time, it was smaller and the purple fluid wasn't that much. Then the circle started turning the fluid into a shape of a dagger with a snake coiling around it and then it immediately shot towards Alex.

The only thing that was in Alex's mind was about this strike as he said to himself, 'It's Fast. I need to dodge it'

Unfortunately, Alex couldn't dodge it in time because of how fast it was so he raised and crossed his arms as he prepared to sacrifice them but at that moment and before the spell could reach him, the liquid started being surrounded by water and then the ball of water completely trapped the purple fluid inside of it and then destroyed it as nothing remained.

Just after that, a deep voice came from the sky and started speaking, "Hmph, don't you know that fighting between participants outside trials is prohibited. Do you want me to cut you right here and now?".

The moment they heard the voice coming from above they both instinctively raised their heads. They found a humanoid beast with A great blue aura emanating from him while standing in the air. This aura made his presence as clear as the day.

'Who is that magic beast?', both of them had this question popping in their mind as they wondered who he is. The beast was wearing a long robe and black pants while holding a Huge long Katana. Of course, this was none other than Hu Zhao who came to stop this fight.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?", It was the Number 10 Titan who asked him as he wondered about his identity. He also felt a little bit of dread as he didn't feel the tiger beast at all and only when he heard his voice did he feel his mana.

He then started thinking about his next step, 'It seems that there is something mysterious to this place more than other Saint graves. I need to meet with number 8 so that I can fight with him against this monster and even because I don't think I have a chance alone'.

"Hmph. I don't have to tell you why I am here but since I'm in a good mood, I will tell you".

snap~

Hu Zhao snapped his fingers and everybody started being engulfed by the white light and teleported again. It was just an instant and when Alex and the Titan opened their eyes again, they found themselves among a huge crowd of people that included all the people who passed the first trial.

Alex who looked around discovered that they were inside a huge underground hall that could house over ten thousand people. The hall also had drawings on almost all the parts of the wall.

At the center of the hall, a stand was there with a big chair in the center. The one sitting there was none other than Hu Zhao. He was looking at all the people that were confused and waited for a moment so that they can understand what is going around them.

After a moment, everyone noticed him sitting in the center and he then started speaking, "Congratulations, you are now a step closer to get Charles' treasure but unfortunately for you, he told me to get people disqualified as much as I can so I, as the second examiner came with the perfect trial for that. After waiting for some time, we will start the second trial, The Void tunnel".

Hu Zhao grinned and his canines showed as it made all the people looking at him feel a little bit of fear and he then immediately said, "I, Hu Zhao will be the one to decide whether you deserve to go to the next trial".

________________________

While everyone was busy with the trials, a man holding a Halbrad in his hand appeared out of nowhere and just got out of the forest and was walking towards the ruins.

He then started speaking and said, "I finally reached the island. I must say that boss is really taking it too far. To make me also go is beyond ridiculous. Well, doesn't matter. Hmm, Shall we start now?".

Suddenly, many shadows appeared and many people wearing black ninja clothes moved very fast around the place and the man said, "Well, seems like my friends here want to start already".