152 Life or Death

"Now it's time for the third round. Making it this far could be lucky or unlucky. I guess, it's a more of a morality challenge. I just love putting people in desperate situations... Hahaha, if only I could see your expressions later. Mmmm, that would have been nice. For now, you will have to wait just a tiny bit!" Not as flippant sounding as before, the voice spoke with both a creepy and serious tone. Just this change alone was enough to send ominous feelings of dread through Greyson. If this challenge was something the creator enjoyed then it must be terrible based off the previous stages. The creator was out of his mind!

"Morality?" Greyson murmured to himself. Did this creator want someone with a sense of morality or prefer someone with none at all? From the earlier situations, it felt that he would lean towards the immoral and insane people. But it could also all be a front and the creator was actually looking for someone with a more straightforward and purer personality. "I guess we'll just have to play by ear later..." Glancing over at his teacher, Greyson was not sure how to feel. Leilena looked back with similar apprehension in her eyes. The two of them felt scarred from all the games earlier, they really had to stay on their toes in this dungeon. Never knowing what to expect was really discomfiting. With nothing better to do, both of them sat down to quietly meditate to stay at their peak and calm their minds.

Time ticked by quietly and the situation stayed at status quo. One would think this moment of peace would help soothe their nerves, but it only made the pair more on edge. This situation was analogous to being constantly tortured by someone, then that person just stops one day. Psychologically, the victim cannot help but feel that it is the calm before the storm. Greyson and Leilena felt exactly like this and were unable to sit still. Pacing around the open space, Leilena felt increasingly impatient.

"When is this test going to start?! How long are we supposed to just sit here waiting?" Close to just yanking her hair out, Leilena yelled to no one in particular. Greyson just sighed wearily in response. Although he was also feeling impatient, his teacher had been pacing now for a good hour or so. Just watching her was making him feel dizzy. Even these same questions, she was probably asking for the umpteenth time in a row, so Greyson just gave up responding.

Unexpectedly, as if finally answering Leilena's questions, two door opening appeared across from them. After the doors creaked open, four figures walked through. Checking them over, Greyson realized they were all men. Two were at the magister level stage four while the other two were stage five. Greyson vaguely recognized their faces from the bunch of them earlier, however he was not aware of their specific identities. Before this test, Greyson only paid attention to those placing in the top 5, since only they qualified to be his opponents. Unlike their prior prideful appearances, these guys did not come off as confident geniuses of Snow Country. Instead, their conditions were very horrid. Clothes torn with multiple injuries and what seemed like burn scars. Even their hair seemed to be singed off. This group who walked in were also surprised when they noticed Greyson and Leilena and the pair's mostly pristine appearances. It was as if they went through very different tests. Suddenly, the newcomers felt seriously aggrieved. Glancing between themselves they could not help but wonder: Was there a route that allowed some to bypass through the beginning stages?

Actually, they could not be blamed for assuming this, since this kind of situation was not rare in dungeons. Sometimes someone would actually be THAT lucky and get the prize by doing nothing. Everyone envied these stories of success.

"Well, now that every is here. The fun shall begin!" Hearing that high-pitched voice once again, the men visibly flinched and trembled. Looking at them, Greyson could only imagine what they had gone through before. Maybe the second exam was not easy for them and they had to suffer through punishments. Just from the burns, it seemed they were struck by the lightning at least a couple times. Especially since they had not changed their attire. It could be assumed this meant they ruined so many pairs that they ran out. Earlier, after the riddle tests, Greyson changed his tattered clothes with a new set. Most people with space storage items kept other sets of clothes with them. These two should be no different.

"Hehehehe~ I'm so glad some people have made it to this step. This is definitely my favorite challenge. And don't worry, it's nothing too complex. If anything, it is very straightforward. You see those opponents in front of you? So, to pass, you have to kill them! Fun, right? Well, good luck. May the best win!"

Hearing this, everyone present looked shocked. Troubled, they looked at each other then at their opponents. How could they just kill someone they had no prior contact with? Not that they were all that innocent, but they were not mindless killing machines. They all also felt the same confusion: if this test was always the same, then why did the Prince not mention this? Did he want them to kill each other?

"Hmm... I'm guessing you are all hesitating right about now, right? You think I'm just kidding around and that this is some trick test. Nope, this is for real. I just love messing with people, you know? Humans are scary in that way. The desire to live creates some crazy situations. If you all decide not to fight, then you will just be stuck here till you croak and die. Kekeke..."

Like the whispers of the devil, the voice urged them on to fight. In response, the four men all turned serious and no longer hesitated. Nodding towards each other, they looked over at Greyson and Leilena with pity in their eyes. In their minds, it was four against two. There was no way for them to lose.

"I'm sorry to both of you. But I guess that is just how today's luck pans out." One of them spoke out.

"I wouldn't be too confident too fast. I can tell that you all are not fully recovered from before while we are in peak condition to fight. Although we are outnumbered, sometimes it is quality that wins of quantity in our world of magic." Leilena just sneered at them before responding sarcastically.

The group's expression darkened at her taunting.

"If you wish to invite death like so, then we will oblige you." Standing in formation, the four looked like a well-oiled machine. The strongest of the four was a fire-element user and stood at the forefront to attack with a spear magic tool. Two of the stage four magicians were earth-element users who used shields while the last stage five magician was a water-element user who had a staff. Leilena and Greyson felt pressure seeing their practiced coordination. Obviously, this team was not made randomly like theirs.

"Greyson, I know that you are still a little soft in your heart, but now is not the time. They really want to kill us. Although teacher also feels slightly uncomfortable about killing them, we can't afford to show mercy. Showing mercy to your enemies is to be cruel to yourself. Do you understand?" Shaking off any playfulness from earlier, Leilena looked over at Greyson with a grave expression.

"I know." Trying his best to look determined, Greyson truly did feel hesitant.

Not giving the pair time to think, the lead attacker first targeted Leilena spear pointing outwards. Using the fire element at his feet to burst out with tremendous speed, he arrived in what seemed like just a blink of an eye. Already prepared for such a sudden attack, Leilena gracefully dodged. Starting half a second late, Greyson also contributed by sending some lightning and fire balls towards the main attacker. The wing magician on the side quickly stepped in to block the spell holding up his shield and activating it with his earth element mana. However, no matter what, his magic tool enhancement only barely made up for the difference in power. Blown back, he spat some blood looking severely injured. The water magician at the back quickly followed up with a rejuvenation water spell. Although it was not as effective as light element healing spells, the defender was able to stand once again.

On the other side, Leilena continued to dodge the spear thrusts and swings. Her talent did not lie in upfront attacks, so there was not much she could do. Every time she tried to get close to Greyson to switch positions, the attacker would get in her way and the other three would push Greyson further away. It was this balance play of attack, defend, attack, defend for a good while. Every now and then, the water element magician would also send long distance attacks to mess with Greyson and Leilena's rhythm. However, this balance could not hold for long as Greyson was beating down the defenders, who were now double teaming against him. Those rejuvenation spells only slightly healed the skin-deep wounds and dulled pain, but they did not get rid of the underlying damage. Both defenders were too weak at this point to fight back. Because of this, the water magician could only turn his focus to supporting the two of them and attack Greyson with his strongest spell, Water Cannon. But Greyson was not one who only knew how to fight close quarters. Summoning his own earth wall, Greyson pulled out his bow and arrow. Blocking the oncoming attack, he pulled back the arrow with deep concentration. The tip was sharpened with his earth element and the speed supported by the wind element. He willed the wall to have a narrow opening right about eye-level and released the arrow based on the direction the hits came from. Hearing the yelp of pain and surprise, he knew he hit his mark. The wall crashed into the ground and his vision cleared once again. Unfortunately, the arrow was not fatal and stabbed through the water magician's right shoulder. In that state, he could no longer use his staff to augment his magic.

At this moment, the fire element magician made the fatal mistake of turning his attention away to check on his teammate. Leilena's eyes glinted with a cruel streak as a black dagger appeared instantly in her hand. Almost like teleportation, there was a small gust of wind. The main attacker looked over in surprise only to realize that the woman he was fighting had disappeared. Holding onto his throat, a thin slit appeared as blood sprayed out. Already behind the man, Leilena shook her dagger once to clear off the blood. Taken aback by the first death, everyone paused for a second, especially Greyson. Seeing the teacher he once saw as kind, playful, and innocent, cut open a man's throat with such precision and ease made his heart clench.

The other three teammates' eyes turned red in fury as they began attacking once more with a disregard for their life and injuries. Sensing their comradery, Greyson hesitated to act ferociously as he truly respected this group. Only a moment's hesitation led to injury as he was stabbed by an ice spear. Pulling himself together, he quickly responded by healing himself. Hardening his expression, he flipped his hand and Arctos appeared in his hand. Using the shadows, he quickly appeared next to one of the earth element users. Surprise filled the man's eyes but no fear. Before Greyson could reach him, the other defender came forward and was stabbed clean through. He whispered something shortly to the other man.

With Greyson's hearing, he could catch the words.

"Even if both our deaths are inevitable, the older brother should die first, right?"

Just those words escaped the man's mouth before he turned to ice and shattered apart. Like a large rock pressing against his heart, those parting words gripped Greyson's heart as he struggled to breathe. Tightening his grip around his sword while approaching the younger brother, Greyson truly felt a sort of despair and questioning.

At this time, Leilena had already finished off the water magician who was no match once she was close enough. She watched Greyson with empathy and knew of his heartache. Her student was not aware, but all seven heads of the departments back at the Dalia Academy had served in the Dalia Kingdom's army. They fought through 10 years of continuous warring before Greyson was even born. Back then, the Dalia Kingdom was struggling to keep its land with a neighboring kingdom, so every magician in the kingdom was forcefully enlisted to support the front lines. One could only grow numb to the death and bloodshed as normal humans stood no chance against the attacks of the magic warriors. Just one long distance spell could kill 10 foot soldiers. In war, who really is in the right? Both sides are just fighting for what they believe is right, or maybe just what their King believes is right. Subjects do not have control.

Greyson looked over the last remaining group member in front of him. Complex emotions filled his brain. He lifted up the sword, but somehow could not find the will. Stuck in his own world, he did not notice that the man had already shown surrender in his expression. It seemed that his brother's death was too large a hit. Looking at the pieces of ice that were his brother, the man grit his teeth and grabbed his broken shield. Struggling to stand up, he faced Greyson head on and ran at him like a raging bull. Caught off guard at this last-ditch struggle, Greyson responded on instinct and stabbed the man through. This time, Greyson's spell was not activated so the man did not turn to ice. His warm blood splattered against Greyson and beaded down the blade.

Taking a shaky breath, Greyson pulled out the sword only to realize his hand was trembling slightly. He could not understand why he was like this. In the Beast Empire, he had killed the Devil Fox heir and Blood Rabbit princess as well for his plot. Yet, somehow, the guilt did not hit him like this. Was it because he did not interact at all with them?

"Hohoho and then there were two! Congratulations on surviving, a shame for the others. Don't feel too bad, the weak die at some point anyways. I have some good news for you~ the next stage is the last one! Pass that and you will get the prize!"

Holding his head, Greyson was in no mood to rejoice.