First Trial (Pt 2)

This had to be the oldest trope in the book William thought. "Zombies as a first trial?...Kinda unoriginal."

Miriam was upset, "Just because you've read about them doesn't mean you can write them off!"

Will jumped slightly as he didn't expect for her to yell at him. "Your right, I'm sorry...what can you tell me about them?"

Miriam grumbled for a moment before finally relenting, "The Zombies you've read about are nothing like the ones here. I'm not saying they don't exist, but that is only on inferior worlds where the trial takers were too weak.

These Zombies are the real deal. Quick, intelligent, strong, and with blessings just like you. They are an individual race after all. Subject to all the trials rules."

This news sobered him up rather quickly. He had assumed that like most Zombies he'd read about they would be shambling masses of flesh. Easily ripped apart for early leveling. The trials it seemed had different plans for him.

"Wait a moment Miriam, why isn't it attacking us then?" He noticed that while the Zombie was coming towards him, it seemed incredibly slow.

"That is because the trial imposes a grace period for all initial trial takers on their first drop in. It cannot actually attack you until all pertinent information has been given.

This is the only time that will happen though, so from now on you'll have to be on your toes the moment you arrive."

Miriam was dead set on making sure that Will took all of these trials seriously. She had seen far too many die from hubris rather than their enemies.

Will took a moment to adapt to that information and mentaly prepare himself for the coming struggle.

"Alright...what do I need to know?"

Miriam was please with his new frame of mind, as well as the determination she could see in him.

'Ding!'

"Request granted, see below for the information.

Welcome to your first official trial. We thank you for your participation and hope that this beginners information pack will be of use to you.

Please note that all future grade F trials will be absent this info pack."

Just this much already told Will a few things that he had guessed at but never really paid attention too.

Like the fact that everyone's blessings came from other beings, who more likely than not, were watching them perform.

Also that those beings were the ones who probably decided on completion rewards and grades.

He also speculated that it was those beings who decided which races even got to play the game. But then remembered that those conditions were decided upon race creation, as well as the fact that the whole trial system seemed to have a governing board.

As all of this was currently well above his pay grade he decided to leave it for later when he had more time and information.

"Just like was mentioned in the previous info pack, all trials are given based on the grades of those participating in them.

The Individuals blessings, skills, equipment, and overall trial record are also taken into account to provide appropriate challenges."

Will had already guessed as much. It was impossible for such a system to be half hearted in the way it handed out these trials.

They would be rendered less than useless if those with high grade blessings got stuck with low grade trials, and vice versa.

"Now presenting trial information, please see below.

Trial Name: Forest of the Dead

Trial Grade: F-E (Note: grade increased due to participants race/blessing powers)

Trial Requirements: Survive the next 7 Days in the Forest of the Dead.

Trial Rewards: Instant lvl up, 1 F-E grade equipment/resource pack. Additional rewards based on completion rate.

This concludes the information pack."

Will couldn't help but frown a little at this information. Survival quests, while the most straightforward, were also usually the most deadly.

He had next to no combat experience, and while he could normally last for a couple days foraging/hunting, he had no idea if these woods even had game in them.

"I guess I'm really in your hands here Miriam...What should I do?" He continued to stare at the zombie in front of him who seemed to be just waiting for a signal to pounce and consume his flesh.

He shuddered internally at the the thought but force back his disgust and focused on what Miriam was telling him.

"Stay calm William, you are stronger than you know. The first thing to remember is that your body is not the same as it use to be.

You are vastly superior to any human on earth physically, and mentaly. So you have tools to work with."

Hearing this did indeed calm him down a little, and he felt his breathing and heart rate slow just a bit as he felt slightly more confident in his survival chances.

"The first thing you should do is try to use your senses. You are a Neo-Dragon, your senses are different from humans.

Try to feel the energy in your own body and direct it towards your senses to enhance them."

Will immediately focused inward, particularly towards his heart. What he found was that he could feel something like a quarter sized marble within himself that pulsed along with his heart beat. Pumping a strange silvery energy along his secondary veins that were created during his evolution.

As he focused on it he tried to move it, and surprisingly it responded. He sensed the pulse get stronger as that energy started to move more quickly and focus itself around his eyes, ears, and brain.

When this happened he instantly felt the difference. He iris changed color from blue to metallic silver, small arch's of lightning could be seen sparking from his eyes.

His perception of the world sped up, and he could hear the rough breathing of the zombie even though it was several meters away.

He was more aware of his surroundings and himself in a way that he hadn't experienced before. And he had to admit that it felt...good!

He felt great, more alive and stronger than ever, even stronger than when he first evolved. But before it could all go to his head the voice of reason chimed in.

"WAKE UP WILL!" Miriam screamed at him, clearly pissed off at his lack of discipline. "Did you forget everything we talked about up until now? Not to mention the zombie that is literally right in front of you?!"

Miriam's voice shook him out of his self appreciation long enough to notice that now the zombie was coming towards him at a normal pace, as if it was finally free to act.

The confident walk of the zombie betrayed the fact that it wasn't mindless at all, just confident in its ability to slaughter what it perceived as prey.

"Sorry Miriam...I'm awake now."

She sighed with both frustration and relief now that he was paying attention. "You cant let that happen William. Next time could cost you your life. Just be thankful that this guy seems to be as arrogant as you almost became."

That one stung a little, "I didn't mean too..." He retorted defensively.

"Weather you meant to or not is irrelevant, and you are wasting time."

Her tone allowed no argument, and he knew he was wrong so instead of as she said "Wasting time." He decided to just move on.

"Now William, when you look at that zombie what do you see?"

He took a good long look at the zombie approaching him, scanning from top to bottom when he said.

"I see two different colored orbs in his head and stomach, one is green, the other blue. They both seem to pulse with energy but are not connected to each other."

"Very good will, you've just discovered one of your most powerful innate abilities."

"What do..." He didn't finish before,

'Ding!'

"Congratulations you have completed the hidden quest, Bloodline activation. As the first of a new species not all of your abilities could be represented in the active and passive skills presented to you.

As such some of your Neo-Dragon abilities have been categorized as INNATE, and are subject to your discovery of them, or your obtaining sufficient power for the trial system to provide you with the information.

Please see below for the information.

Quest: Bloodline activation - Simulate your bloodline power to run unlocking your sensory abilities.

Reward: Dragon Sense- Grade F: Your senses are vastly superior, enhances all senses by 2x in a passive state. In active state increase by 5x and activate Soul sense. This allows you to see the soul/energy sensors of any being with a soul strength weaker than yours.

Cost: passive- None active- 1mana/sec

Cooldown: None

Note: Further abilities are locked based on grade. Improve your grade to unlock additional bloodline powers."

Will didn't have the time to really think about any of this because it was right when he finished the information that the zombie stopped walking.

He stood 2 meters tall, greenish pale skin, large black eyes and decaying hair. His clothes looked ragged and torn but his body seemed solid. And his muscles betrayed a kind of strength that wasn't normal.

"Good morning!" The zombie greeted cheerfully, his voice sounded strangely melodic and rough at the same time. Like a record player where the static was turned up. "Before we get around to me eating you, I was hoping you would answer some questions for me."

Will was so shocked by the fact that this zombie was trying to talk with him that he missed most of the message. So instead of some witty retort about who was going to eat who all he could muster was,

"...It talks??"