First Trial (Part III)

[Hostile encounter solved!]

[+12 Free Stats]

Unlike the first time, where I got rewarded with a skill point, I got twelve stat points this time, and if I had to guess for each person I knocked out, that would be the reward I gained.

Was there a reason for it? I wouldn't be surprised if the people who showed hostility were less of a threat or if the hostility they had shown wasn't enough. I would have to test more of it to see how this power of mine worked.

I had already wasted enough time with these clowns, and now it was time for me to hunt. Most of the trial-takers had already left and started the hunt. Those who stayed and watched my performance were smart enough not to get in my way and leave me alone.

Allocating all my newly acquired stat points into endurance, I dashed out in search of nearby monsters, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.

The quickest way to draw out monsters was to make meaningful, conspicuous movements. Gripping the axe tightly, I swung it at a nearby tree, aiming to bring it crashing down and hopefully attract some attention.

I was surprised to see the tree stump so sturdy. One swing had only cut half of the tree, and my second swing had knocked the tree down, causing a huge thump. Despite all of this, I couldn't see any monsters. Did this backfire and make them afraid instead?

Considering how this was supposed to be a trial on where monsters should be abundant, it was annoying how I had to search far and wide so that I could fight them.

After two minutes of sprinting, I finally stumbled upon my first target. A group of apes danced around, and upon sight, they shouted wildly, clearly viewing me as their next prey.

"Ooh! Ooh! Ahh! Ahh!" With brown hair and the size and build of a human, these ugly humanoid creatures surrounded me.

I didn't waste any time and went for the one I found annoying most. Surprised that my speed was quick enough to reach them in the blink of an eye, I destroyed one and turned it into minced meat.

A medallion dropped upon its death, and obviously, those are the points the angel had told us about. Before picking it up, I would have to clean up the rest of the apes.

[You have reached the limit of your level.]

[Level Seven Achieved]

[Five unused stat points are available.]

"Five?" Defeating the ten apes granted me a level-up. Each dropped a medal upon defeat. Upon inspection, each medallion bore the number five, indicating the points these creatures awarded.

When I collected all ten medals, I was surprised they seamlessly merged. My concerns about carrying multiple medals were scattered when fifty points were added to my tally.

"Put it all into strength." I decided, feeling the surge of power coursing through me as I invested my newly acquired points.

"Three more levels..." In most games, reaching level ten marks the beginning of a true adventurer's journey in an MMORPG.

A class change would most likely occur if it worked like such a game. I can't wait to see what would happen if this were the case, because it would be boring if everyone fought with their base skill.

"???"

However, before I could move, an earthquake shook the ground. While I could sense the general direction of its source, I had no immediate inclination to investigate further. There was no purpose other than satisfying my curiosity.

With much time remaining in the trial, I resolved to strengthen my strength before undertaking the earthquake's direction. Energized and determined, I set off in the opposite direction, hunting down any adversaries I could find.

~

[Third-Person POV]

"Oh my~! It appears one group has roused the big baddy. How amusing that they took my advice to heart. Such simple fools~!" The guide for the first trial exclaimed with delight.

Under the watchful eye of the angel, a monstrous entity emerged from the depths of the earth, triggering a devastating earthquake that reverberated throughout the trial grounds, capturing the attention of all participants.

As for those who had awakened the creature, they met a grim fate, succumbing to the earthquake's wrath, their lives snuffed out as they were crushed, buried, and sealed beneath the monstrous entity they had stirred from its slumber.

"What is that..?"

"RUN!!!"

"We can't beat that! Let's split up and escape!"

Those driven by curiosity ventured towards the source of the monstrous entity, only to find themselves facing certain doom. Escape was futile. Those who attempted it were swiftly consumed and disappeared without a trace.

With its size towering over a medium-sized tree, no one could miss it when spotting it. However, despite that, if the monsters spot any prey, no matter how quick it is, escaping death is impossible.

"RUWG!!!"

The creature's deafening howl sent shivers down the spines of every living being nearby. The unfortunate group that sought to investigate the disturbance met a gruesome fate, mercilessly slaughtered until only one survivor remained.

Cowering behind a tree, tears streaming down their face, the lone survivor's miraculous escape was astounding. Yet, despite their physical survival, the trauma inflicted by witnessing such brutality left their mental state in tatters.

Following the initial carnage, the monster continued its relentless rampage, devouring any lifeforms it sensed, driven by an insatiable hunger. After a prolonged slumber, the creature had weakened, and now, reawakened, it sought to consume everything in its path to regain its strength.

"Let's see how many people will survive. I may have forgotten to inform them of the additional rules, but I'm certain I won't face any consequences for it. Hehehe~, and even if I were penalized, the spectacle of their despair would make it all worthwhile." The angel chuckled gleefully to herself as she watched the trial unfold with delight.