Karl no Tensei: Transmigrated as an Assassin with a Mana Meter Chapter 22: Ch 22: The Combat Test [3]

I stood up back on my feet and stepped forward. My movents had a slight trembling in them as I was suddenly struck by a pang of nervousness, now that my turn had finally co.

Though I suspect most of it was due to all the bloody ravings of the old man.

As I was passing by him, he whispered under his breath.

"When you get back free ti in your hands, recall the conversation we had. And don’t hesitate to ask my help, whenever you might need it."

Pausing mid step, I have a slight nod before continuing.

Seeing approach, Reinhard finally ca out of the runes etched on the floor. Flexing his arms, he smirked. "I would say be careful out there. Mr. Arlott wasn’t lying when he said all you need to do there is survive."

"Just an advice to you in return...Mr. Arlott seems to be a pure sadist. He happened to be describing the various ways he would like to torture you...in fact, he was smiling in glee while explaining it all to ."

I went past the bewildered black haired and ignored the crazy shouts of the frail old maniac. Finally, I stood upon the runes. Or to be precise, on the blood sucking sun.

"Alright, are you ready?" Arlott asked.

I chuckled.

"As much as I could...yeah, I am."

No sooner had those words escaped my lips, the runes started glowing again. However this ti as the bright radiance filled the room, I didn’t shut my eyes.

I didn’t need to as not a single ray could penetrate the slimy bubble that now covered . It had appeared so quickly that one mont I had closed my eyes and the next mont, I was wrapped in it.

The surface rippled but didn’t touch . It was almost as if it was cautious of , as if it had a mind of it’s own.

And in few monts, I felt my body spin as a suction force drew into another dinsion. My vision narrowed to pinpricks as white light filled the rest of it.

Before I vanished, I heard a faint sound. It sounded as if it had been from sowhere quite distant...

"Best of luck..."

∆∆∆∆∆

My vision returned back as I slipped on the ground beneath and struck a wall. Looking around , all I saw was...mist.

All around . At every single corner....wait, I can’t even make out the corners of the room. The mist was that thick.

And dark as well.

I felt the wall under my touch. My nose suddenly scrunched as a rotten sll invaded my nostrils and I leaned forward away from it’s touch.

Now what? Reinhard did say it was indeed all about surviving.

And Arlott said each of these tests were cartered according to our fighting styles. In my case though this room was certainly made keeping Henry in mind. Not Karl.

Could I even be more dood? I sincerely doubt that.

I took a step forward.

’Need to star--’

*Whoosh*

A splitting sound disturbed the tranquility of the mist as I instinctively crouched with my back to the wall.

With a clank, sothing struck the wall just above my head. Right where my chest had been while standing.

Touching the wall, I ca across the object...and as suspected, it was an arrow.

The tal surface was cold to the touch and was adorned by what were once fluffy feathers. Now all I could feel were spider webs on the coarse feathers.

’It seems this place wasn’t recently built...it probably just suited the needs to test Henry and they used it. And...the floors are clearly unsafe. Placing my foot carelessly shall set another trap free.’

At that mont, a thumping sound echoed throughout the place.

I looked up into the dark, misty space in front of . The steps grew louder and louder.

This...

This... whatever it was, it was approaching !

*Thump*

I got up and sliding up the walls moved sideways, slowly and with deliberate caution.

*Thump*

I waited for sothing to show up at the place I was. Only when it would retreat would I plan my next move.

Suddenly the steps stopped. An uneasy silence followed it.

However soon it was broken when a thundering punch slamd down on the wall or to be accurate, at the place I had been standing before.

Chunks of debris flew around, with few small pieces hitting . The steps thumped again but this ti it seed to be retreating back to where it had co from.

...And through all of this, I remained grounded at my position unable to see a single thing.

The darkness now felt suffocating. But with no other option, I started sliding down the walls.

But as I took the next step...

*Whoosh*

An arrow struck the wall, just inches away from my forehead.

Then my ears picked up sothing.

’Not again...’ I thought as the thumping footsteps returned. This ti however it was moving faster.

Without wasting any ti, I slid back to the cracked walls again. And a second later, another section of the stinking wall was blown off.

My lips pursed into thin lines as I realised my grim fate.

The steps hadn’t returned back...

aning the monster was present just re feet away from .

I tried thinking. Back to the words of the old man, of Reinhard...and I realised they didn’t give any of us a weapon.

That’s strange given the level of monsterity we are facing.

Is the key to the entire contest using mana?

My head fell forward in disappointnt as I suddenly realised why the room was dark. Completely dark.

Afterall Henry had the light elent...not the Ice elent, which cannot be even used in this eerie condition.

Just then, a breath fell on my shoulder.

’What the...?!’ I spun hastily as I caught a sharp object with my bare hands. My mouth made a screeching sound as pain shot up my arms.

Without thinking I leapt forward and enhancing my fist with mana drove it right through the underbelly of the assailant.

Or should have been....that is until the assailant vaporised into black shadows before the punch could even connect.

And instead of dealing damage to the assassin, all I heard was another thumping sound. This ti right behind .

"...Fuck."