27 27: The Final Test

SPLASH!

Caleb felt the impact of the water on his body. He felt stinging pain due to how high the cliff was, which made his acceleration higher. It leads to a significant force being exerted on his body.

Fortunately, the water was deep enough to prevent injury. After the momentary pain, Caleb shuddered as his skin felt the temperature of the water. He was already cold on top of the cliff earlier and it just got magnified. Then he can also smell that the water from the river didn't actually smell bad like he thought.

He knew that it must be because of the quality of the water. Caleb stared at the water all around, which was clear enough to reflect his face. Then he saw his usually messy hair become straight with drips of water at the tip of hair strands.

'What's up with this place!? Why must it be so damn cold!?' Caleb immediately switched to a swimming posture and swam towards the riverbank. It's the land area that borders the water and extends along the edge of the river.

When he got nearer it, he saw the six members of the hunting party waiting for him. At the water's edge, Caleb's eye was clear enough to notice several grasses and reeds. And the trees that stood on the riverbank differ from other places. He could see trees like willows, alders, or cottonwoods, along with various shrubs that can provide shade and shelter.

'There's a lot of plants in this damned river.' it visibly impressed Caleb at this moment as he continued to propel himself.

Plants like water lilies, cattails, and bulrushes thrive in the shallow waters near the bank, providing habitat for aquatic animals

Fortunately, with the presence of people around, Caleb couldn't see any land animals or sky animals that can usually be found on riverbanks, such as birds. After all, various bird species often frequent riverbanks such as ducks, herons, kingfishers, and swallows that feed on fish and insects in and around the water.

Though Caleb could see a lot of fish near him. Trout, salmon, and catfish. He even had to urge to catch one in his hands, but he was sure that it would just slip into his small palm. Suddenly, the faces of Andre, Fatty, and Clifford's disgusted expression toward meat appeared in his head.

"What a pity... It would be a change of pace for those four bastards' palate."

Just like that, Caleb reached the river bank and stepped on the grainy sand. He felt some prickling sensation on his feet as he did so.

"You kid, I didn't expect you're not only gifted physically, but you're also ballsy!" Caleb felt a strong pat on his shoulders as Dunn greeted him.

Caleb raised his head and stared at Dunn

'Ballsy? How about trying every method of death? Dumb ways to die... Let's see if you won't grow a pair of extra balls.'

Of course, he didn't voice it out. The words aren't appropriate to say for a wonderful child like him. With such vulgarity, they might think that he behaves like a Mongrel.

With a shrug, Caleb thought of something and said:

"Jumping into a high cliff with bravery is like doing a cannonball into a pool of opportunities. Sure, the splash might be big, but everyone loves a good pool party!"

Fushigiro, Jin, Dunn, and the others gave Caleb a speechless look.

"Why?" Caleb asked hesitantly.

Could it be? They didn't get his joke? Then he remembered that pool parties didn't exist in this world.

SPLASH!

Fortunately, a sudden splash of water attracted the attention of the six, which made Caleb breathe a sigh of relief. Then he also turned his head at the source of attention and saw the bald-caped swimming towards them at an astonishing speed comparable to a damn jet-ski.

"This guy... Is he human?" Caleb asked hesitantly.

Fushigiro chuckled.

"You bet... He is."

Hearing Caleb's question, Athena and Rina both covered their mouths.

It was only a matter of seconds, but the bald-caped guy was already standing beside him. A gust of wind blew the water at the edge of the river and rose to a height of four meters and the surrounding trees shook, making the fragile leaves fall one after another.

The hair of every member flew in different directions. Fushigiro's face had its usual sunny smile, but Caleb could see a complicated emotion hiding beneath his exterior. Then Caleb curiously wondered how Jin would react, but he saw Jin's eyes gleamed with a hint of cold and calculation directed on the bald-caped guy.

'Just who is this guy? And why is he so strong?' A strong spark of curiosity was ignited in his heart.

Caleb was sure of one thing. Even if he exerts all his strength and infuses taboo energy to boost his speed, he won't be able to match that kind of speed. 'Is it some kind of technique? Then how strong the captain is?'

He couldn't help but shudder.

"Enough of that." Fushigiro broke the weird atmosphere and asked Caleb. "So who do you want to choose as an opponent in your third trial?"

Caleb looked at the seven members in front of him. The question is, who should he choose?

His gaze landed on Dunn first, which prompted the latter to speak.

"I won't go easy with you, Johan."

He even clenched his fist and it made a popping sound. He looks as if he is ready to beat someone into a pulp.

Caleb's mouth twitched a little, seeing such an effort to look cool.

'No thanks...'

He couldn't help but replay the fight between Dunn and the two deer. The inhuman precision, agility, and body that could bend in weird directions weren't something he was prepared to deal with.

Sure, his father taught him how to fight and he has excellent physical strength now. However, skill-wise, he isn't as good as Dunn. Of course, he was confident to at least escape once he really fights Dunn for real.

However, if it was talking about killing. It was his expertise. His father taught him how to fight, but trained him more on how to kill. After all, the essence of combat is to kill and to be killed.

He didn't even dare to compare Mordred and Mir to the veteran hunters in front of him who were fighting dangerous, mutated animals daily.