18

[Remaining number of participants: 978 / 982]

The evening sun cast shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the bleak sky.

The humid air of the impending night felt alive, sending shivers with its chilly waft.

Alab remained still in his refuge inside the hollow tree, oblivious to the descending night. Only when the darkness overcast his place did he notice, his rumbling stomach urged him to consume whatever he had.

He scrambled through his inventory and took out the dried meat of the [Fiery Lion]. It tasted horrible but Alab could only savor the convenient food like it was a cuisine.

What could Alab do? He was not adept at cooking.

After consuming some more dried meats, Alab directly resumed converting items.

He still had 14 points left to reach 100. With the rate he was converting items, and restoring mana in between, he could upgrade an item for 2 hours at least. He inferred that with this rate, he would reach 100 converted points in just one more day.

It was a pity that his [Mana Reduction (D)] skill was at a low rank. He then ensured to upgrade this skill as well in the soonest time.

*breath*

Humid air wafted his nose as he took a breath. Alab didn't waste another second as he began converting items.

[Your converted points have increased!]

-----

On the side of Han Seo Yeon, an astray [Owl Bear] shuddered as it heaved its last breath, blood gushed out its lacerated neck. From the distorted cut, it was clear that it took several slashes to eventually kill the monster.

Girth panted for air, confidence surging in his body.

He was the one who dealt the erratic cuts with his inept swordsmanship. He was switching between sword and spear, utilizing the latter to impair the monster at the beginning of the fight until it broke and was no longer useful.

He was now holding a sword whilst Han Seo Yeon who had played the integral tanking, repaired the worned out spear.

Han Seo Yeon tossed the spear to Girth who was reckless, excited for another fight.

"Keke! More! I can kill more!", Girth grew conceited from his kills.

Han Seo Yeon took the dropped mana crystal and sent it to his inventory. Now, they had three mana crystals each.

"We should take a rest. The night is about to fall, we should eat first and restore our energy"

Han Seo Yeon made a rational decision. The descending night not only meant a disadvantageous landscape for them but also, the nocturnal [Owl Bear] would begin to crawl out of their nests, in search of prey.

They had to be in their best state for the upcoming battles.

The girth was reluctant but had eventually given in. Looking at Han Seo Yeon who pulled out jerkies from his inventory, neglecting Girth's opposition, he had one realization. Han Seo Yeon was more hard-headed than him at times!

"What now, you do not want to eat?", Han Seo Yeon shrugged Girth.

"Give me one! ke", apparently, Girth didn't bring food with him.

"eat the crumbs, dog"

"Arff, ke!"

-----

The night was deep and other groups had decided to end the day. They took shelter inside the hollow trees, taking a rest.

Unlike them, higher species were frantic at night. Packs of [Owl Bears] began pouring out of their respective nests like waterfalls rushing down the cliff. They appeared in packs of 5, bringing horror to the lower species.

They could only cower in fear and suppress their breaths inside the hollow trees.

While others decided to end the day with fear, others felt that the day had just started as they slaughtered [Owl Bear] one after another.

The draconian princess glowed with red light, spewing a breath of fire. Monsters were scorched to death before they could even take a step.

Giants cast a long shadow on the monsters below. With great force, it stomped, killing the monsters as it tiptoed at times. Blood littered on his punctured feet caused by the sharp nails and bristly fur.

Fairies barely delivered the monsters to their death door with their multicolored dust. They panted for air and decided to hide hours later.

On the other hand, Anastasia was restless. Another [Owl Bear] perished under her ablaze sword. Taking the dropped mana crystal to her inventory, she glanced at the real-time ranking in the system interface.

[Practical Examination Ranking:

Remaining Participants: 974 / 982

(AN: Format: Rank, Name, number of mana crystals, ranking growth)

Rank 1: Aurora (100 mana crystals) (+0)

Rank 2: Eyebeast (99 mana crystals) (+0)

Rank 3: Lucifer Dawn (78 mana crystals) (+0)

.....

..

Rank 24: Anastasia Collins (23 mana crystals) (+1)

Rank 25: Drumey Silverwing (16 mana crystals) (-1)

...

Rank 709: Han Seo Yeon (4 mana crystals) (-506)

Rank 710: Girth Libra (4 mana crystals) (+269)

....

..

.

Rank 976: Krok (0 mana crystal) (-5)

Rank 977: Kreka (0 mana crystal) (+0)

Rank 978: Kroka (0 mana crystal) (+0)

Rank 979: Kraks (0 mana crystal) (-3)

Rank 980: Kriks (0 mana crystal) (+0)

Rank 981: Felix Malekith (0 mana crystal) (+0)

Rank 982: Alab Lukeford (0 mana crystal) (+0)]

Anastasia had raised her ranking by one. The steady mana crystals acquisition by Han Seo Yeon and Girth also diminished her previous worries. But, another worry surged in as she looked at Alab's ranking who remained at the bottom of the bottom. He hadn't acquired a single mana crystal yet.

"I hope you are fine, Alab", Anastasia yearned in her heart.

---

Meanwhile, dark elves lurked somewhere in the dungeon. They were heading west where the tangled trees were becoming more apparent and broader.

A herd of [Owl Bear], 5 to be exact, flooded their path. Their vicious hoots permeated the air. It only lasted for a while before the 3 dark elves brandished their falchion sword, reaping the lives of the monsters with relative ease.

They took the mana crystals and obediently handed them to the prince of dark elves. The prince reached out his arm, taking the handed crystals toward him, overlooking the kneeling dark elves.

He places the crystal and watched his ranking rise significantly.

[Rank 24: Anastasia Collins (24 mana crystals) (+1)

Rank 25: Imrik Caledor (23 mana crystals) (+1)

Rank 26: Drumey Silverwing (17 mana crystals) (-2)]

The dark elves showered the prince with honors. He had raised his rank. They then began diving deeper into the western part, streaking from tree to tree as they banished into the depths of the woods.

The darkness of the night concealed the perturbed face of the woman dark elf. The low rank of Felix couldn't leave her mind.

----

Inside a hollow tree, Felix was recuperating from the bloody fight he had hours ago. The impact just brought severe damage to his little frame. A soothing aura filled his blood that glid to his broken bones, skin, and finally his punctured shoulder.

The night had already seeped in when he fully recovered. He took a glance at the ranking, clutching his hand. He stood up with a determined expression. He would never let discouragement overcame him.

He peeked through the crevice of the hollowed tree and there he saw it, 10 ravenous sallow eyes were peering through the crevice. A small green head poked into the crevice, a wide grin etched on his face.

With a wild shriek, the brother goblin hissed.

"So that is how you recover, huh, KRIKRI"