Chapter 184 - 184. Taskmaster

The travel took them longer than they thought. 

Kendra looked at one of their companions with a smile and asked. ''I am not really from this world. I came from one of the side worlds so I didn't know that this place is so large.''

The young woman smiled back and nodded. ''This place will seem big to you if you come from a 10 rated world. Any other world is a similar size. Even the new world we will go to is huge and there is a chance that we might not even be able to stay together than we will be spread like seeds in wind all over the new world. Just try hard to survive and finish the task.''

Kendra nodded and patted her backpack. She could see that the girl had a similar idea and two bags in her hands. She probably had her own ideas so she didn't want to comment on it. They were actually sitting on the floor of the ship, so she stood up and rose her voice.

''I am new here. Before coming here we were living as it seems at one of10th rated worlds. There I had to survive as a commoner. Listen to me as we are from the same sect. I wish all of us to come back and rise in power. This new world... It seems not to be as simple as you all think. But as well its quite simple. So simple that you need to listen to exact words that Taskmaster tells you. Do what he asks you. Do not exaggerate as it is not your task. Let us all survive the tasks and come back alive out. If any of you need any information or advice about surviving in the wild you can come to us. Before the two of us knew that we had powers we were surviving as commoners. If we can help we will give you advice.'' She bowed politely and sat down.

Suddenly two groups were made with each isaa and Kendra in the middle. They were bombarded with so many questions that even the headmaster got a headache but the two girls answered it calmly, politely and with a smile.

As a cultivator, you do not need to eat a lot but as commoner you do. So the girls shared all kinds of ways to survive in the wilderness. 

''What you can eat bugs?'' One of the girls looked disgusted.

Kendra smiled. ''As cultivator from this world understood that you have been fed only until a certain age, but never the less you should know what hunger is. There will be situations where nothing else will be edible. Think about this. you need to survive. No matter how disgusting something is, as long I can provide you enough time to finish your tasks it doesn't matter. Its experience that elders and grounding fairies are trying to give us and support our growth.''

Everyone just now realized the heaviness of the situation. Isaa gave them a big smile and started laughing.

''You all will one day in future send your own children or grandchildren to similar tasks. If you can earn some knowledge for future generations, no matter how small it is is it still not something you can't talk about. Listen to our advice and you will definitely survive. Actually, that is all you have to do. Survive.''

''How can we fight animals if we cant take even our weapons with us?'' One girl feared that she wouldn't be able to survive.

Kendra smiled. ''If there are stones I told you how to make knives and tips of arrows. If there are no stones just use fire and if that doesn't help, climb the tree and try killing it from above. Or just sit still until someone comes to help you.'' 

There is no space for scared people. The world they are thrown is probably that never saw human life. In that case, they will be hunted by everything. If those weak ones don't strengthen now and listen to her instructions, they might just die inside. She sighed. she wanted them all to survive.

Few days passed with basic training the girls prepared for everyone. From herb recognition to fire making, shelter making,  hunting, fishing and many more.

The headmaster sat there, listening to their teachings and realized how hard their life must have been before they understood their powers.

After ten days of flying on the ship in the early morning light, a tall mountain appeared in front of their eyes. The shiny golden glow over the blue mountain gave them a chilly feeling. But the headmaster waved his hand to envelope the boat with a protective shield and as they flew closer thy realized why he did that.

On other vehicles that they met flying forward, people head thick clothes and heavy gear. So the winds wouldn't blow them away. But by the evening the temperature changed to normal and when the headmaster took the shield away they could smell the sweet scent of spiritual flowers under them. Of course, spiritual flowers were spirit herbs that belonged to one of the big sects and was protected by the shield. 

Kendra recognized shield and smiled. Should she rob this place as well later or should she leave it here?

But the playful smile changed into serious expression as she could feel the deep pressure of someone who is quite a bit more powerful than any of them. Soon on top of the pink mountain, in mid of flowering trees sat a young man and lazily played with his hair while looking arrivals.

When hundreds of vehicles surrounded the mountain and waited for his words he suddenly enlarged himself and started talking with a loud voice. ''Welcome. I am a Taskmaster. I will give you a task and you have to finish it. No weapons can be brought in. Please descend from the vehicles and come here after I give you all task I will send you straight in. No arguments or I will send you in mid of lair of some dangerous animal. Understood?'' 

Everyone positively answered and started climbing the hill where he again in normal size sat and looked at them.

One by one they arrived at his place and we're just given a couple of words and disappeared. Kendra understood the point. By so many thousands of people if he takes time to explain, when will they finish?

She one more time whispered to her group. ''Keep it simple and finish the task.'' 

Everyone nodded. They understood after these days as they spoke to her and Isaa that their knowledge was quite a bit different from what they knew.  Their parents sent them survival manuals but none of them showed a real thing. After all how many cultivators were commoners and survived that long or wrote books. 

Those that survived let their techniques for their own families so most clans had no chance to explain their children any of this.

Kendra and Isaa felt a bit more assured after seeing them agreeing and smiled. They could hear ironic snorting behind but some people better not even look. What is the point if the only task for them is to finish the actual tasks and survive.

From all the groups that group fell into his eyes. They walked clearly calm and careful at the same time. They were silent and didn't argue with another group that tried to get on their nerves. One little child walked between them and had a slight frown on her pretty face and pressed lips as she tried to endure insults from a group of young men that were walking behind them.

Suddenly the group of hundred men passed their group to align in front of them. The child just blinked and shook her head with a sigh while a slight smile appeared on her face. She shrugged her small shoudlers like she didn't care about it and just walked slowly with her group.

When they arrived they understood the truth and were really grateful in heart to Kendra. Simple tasks.

''Build fishermen's house. Live like one. Catch 1000 fish''

''Build hunter house. Live like one. Catch 500 small animals and 100 big animals.''

''Build a village for 100 people with clay bricks.''

''Build lake and catch 100 fish from it.''

''Make 100 suist from plants that is comfortable to wear.''

Many more. The simple tasks are clearly simple but had many subtasks. If you want to build a lake with fishes you need to find a place that is suitable to make it,  wait until is full and then find a way to bring as many fishes inside. Then need to fish those. Make fishing gear yourself.

Build a village is not just building a village. You need to find an appropriate place. Need to make bricks and build houses that are big enough for the whole family. To make such a big house...

Every single task seemed simple. But had quite a lot of subtasks. But he never said make 101 house.

Everyone in her group tensed. They were just 38 people in her group. Luckily Kendra and Isaa checked their gear and gave them advice. So when they heard the tasks they relaxed a tiny bit.

The man was stunned. Mostly the last group would be a complete nervous wreck, but actually those young men before them showed signs of panic. He could hear them talking about loudly and complaining even they were before him.

His eyes passed him and saw on that child's face a mocking smile. Mocking them?

This is interesting. Suddenly his eyes turned to the headmaster that cleary had pride written all over his face. Oh. This is strange. All other elders seem to be quite scared, but this one...

With his perception, he could feel unbridled power in the group. They were all highbred children. Probably from small on cultivated only to become strong cultivators or even passing the next borderline to the God's levels. But shouldn't they be scared?

Yes, they were scared. He could feel their hearts beating really quickly. But in their eyes and their faces he could see resolve to survive and finish the task. Yes, their resolve to survive the task was the reason why he got interested in them.

The real task is to survive in the wilderness on your own while finishing the task. There is a timeline of ten years. If they do not finish the task, the cultivation will be stripped and they had to start from the beginning of cultivation.

But the faster they finish tasking the higher reward they would be given. They will as well be in the same world for ten tears but will be given many other tasks to finish. The more tasks they finish the higher power they would be given.

Let's hope they will be this determined if he split them up. But then he got worried. He didn't split much the other schools. Maybe he can give them lighter tasks. Or leave them with basic powers?

When all others were left he smiled at the last school and loudly proclaimed. ''This year I planned something new. I will let all these cultivators inside a new world for five years. Not ten. The new world is not as easy as it seems. Thatswhy is so short. I put all the schools together but the last school will be spread away from each other. For the sake of fairness, they won't be able to die in the next five years and will be given three basic skills of their choice. They won't be able to cultivate the skills. As they will be sent into the complete wilderness alone I think that is fair. But the moment one of them finishes their task it will be transferred to help others. Until the whole group is together. If the time is not over they will lose all skills accept undying. With that whole group have to stay together until the last moment of five years frame. Of course, we will see how much real cultivators are your people. Do they have that what it takes to be real God?'' 

Most of the elders shook. Not in anger about the given skills than about his last words. The worst transfer between worlds is the God level world. If they don't show their compassion, give up hatred and know how to forgive. The Gods are most merciful. There is another place filled with darkness. If they fall into darkness, no one will be able to save them ever. Not only they won't become Gods. They will become a meal for the creatures inside the darkness. It's a horrible world. Even more for cultivators that are practically sweet dishes for them filled with spiritual energy.

Kendra and her group were stunned. they already were prepared to survive with the little they had as they already suspected they will be sent alone. But now hearing that if someone finishes their task before they will be able to help others and that they will gain a couple of basic skills, their heart became stronger. 

They all turned their heads to Kendra that just blinked at them. She went forward and bowed deeply to the man. He rose his eyebrows and was about to tell her the task when she shook her head. 

''Taskmaster, may I have just tiny little request. Its nothing that is impossible.'' She stared at him with big begging eyes making him even more interested in what kind of foxy idea this female had. Yes, female. He already realized that she is a grown woman still hiding in that childish body. But why?

''I am flattered as you are first to show your respect and your group was respectful to everyone and were not making troubles. So as long the request is not over the top I will accept it.'' He really wondered.

Kendra smiled at him showing her real smile and stunning him all over. ''I just heard You say that we can choose three basic skills. May I ask for permission to give them advice after hearing the tasks?''

He blinked and straightened his back while his face became serious. ''You can give advice to those that you think will not be able to use those of their own choice. But that has to choose alone. No help from any other side.'' 

She nodded and quietly stood to the side and just waited politely.

One after another of her companions arrived and he gave them similar tasks as others. After their choice, she would mostly nod her head but when one young man chooses fire and had to replant the whole mountain with seedlings, she almost blew her top.

Her face became red and she almost started beating him up but stopped herself after seeing him laughing at her silently. So she just glared at the frightened man and hissed at him. ''Idiot. Earth, water, plant. I said keep it simple ! Why the hell would you decide for fire?''

''I am a fire user so I felt the most comfortable with it. I completely forgot that I wouldn't bale to use it for task. '' His voice became smaller as he looked at tips of his feet. ''I take water, earth and plant please.'' He bowed deeply to the Taskmaster that almost started laughing but held deep.

This small girl scared the hell out the grown man that as it seems could by years be her great-grandfather. 

On the end, only Isaa and Kendra were left. He started at the two and started smiling as wicked thoughts appeared on his eyes making the two backing up a few steps. 

''You...'' he pointed at Isaa. ''...will be sent to the water region and will have to make whole fisherman's village with everything they need to live. Say, ten families. Choose your skills wisely.''

Isaa was serious and bowed politely lie everyone else withs straight face. ''I choose water, plant and earth.''

He looked at Kendra's complicated expression and smiled. ''Is her choice good or bad?''

She looked at Isa that confidently said. ''Please trust me. I learned a lot.'' 

She then smiled and nodded. ''In that case, see you soon. Hurry to finish it quickly we need to help others, or you all need to help me. Who knows what Taskmaster has in his hands for me.''

She clearly could feel that he actually held back until last moment. Isa came to her hugged her and then disappeared. 

Now only Kendra was standing there, all alone. 

She bowed to the Taskmaster that had weird smile on his face as he stared at her. ''I have a special task for you, little fox...''