The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight into patches that spread sporadically across the forest ground as Ezekiel and his two remaining companions pressed deeper into the maze-like woodland. The towering trees, each easily twenty ters in diater, created natural corridors that twisted and turned without apparent pattern.
"We’ll have to pause here." Ezekiel stopped his sprint, his feet pushing away the grass and sand at his feet before he slid to a stop on the ground.
Glancing at his HUD, he focused on the map portrayed to him in his superimposed holographic panel. The cause for his sudden pause displayed itself atop the golden panel. From a bird’s eye’s view of the image displayed, the paths seed to separate into four different ones.
The chanic, not choosing to move forward and take the risk, had instead sent his drone forward, even releasing two more drones after discovering that he couldn’t be found by the examiner’s watch. "Laura."
(Three drones deployed and operational. Multiple D-rank mana signatures detected at various depths. Optimal path calculated and updated in real-ti.) Laura’s voice chid directly into his ear while a line traced over the holographic map.
Ezekiel’s golden visor adjusted its transparency, overlaying a three-dinsional map of their surroundings directly onto his field of vision. Red dots marked the locations of mana beasts, while green pathways indicated the safest routes forward.
Unfortunately for other participants, they could never replicate the chanic’s approach. The abundance of mana in the environnt made it hard to pinpoint which area actually had a Mana beast residing within it or was just a minimum for mana particles. Only the geniuses with extraordinary perception and control of mana would be able to do this.
Of course, the normal participants could ignore all the high concentrated mana locations but that would still lead to a major waste of ti which they could not afford.
"This way." He gestured to his left, where a narrow gap between two massive tree trunks provided passage. To Vahn and Yuri, it seed like a luck based choice, but Ezekiel’s HUD showed it as the optimal route to avoid a pack of Shadow Wolves currently prowling fifty ters to their right.
In situations like these, the siblings once more showcased their imnse trust in Ezekiel, following behind him without any words or complaint.
As they had now closely approached the many Mana beasts in the forest, the three didn’t utilize the Windchasers’ thrusters, instead choosing to have Vahn cast a speed enhancent spell on them, decreasing their bone weight, while they moved.
The dampening field arrays built into the soles of their Windchasers masked their footsteps from audible detection while the integrated balance systems allowed for precise movent even in challenging terrain.
As they navigated through the forest, Ezekiel’s technological superiority beca increasingly apparent. Where other participants had to rely on trial and error, magical divination spells that could be detected, or simply brute force their way through obstacles, his drone network provided unprecedented tactical awareness.
The only other groups that managed to keep up with the chanic’s pace were those possessing perceptive geniuses or Seers. The Seers were exceptionally more fortunate. Such a trial was basically akin to them transforming to a fish in a water.
Their terrifying mana perception and ability to peer into the vague fog of destiny allowed them to gain the ability to choose the most pursuit worthy path. It didn’t directly lead them past the forest, but it at least allowed them to eliminate the wrong choices.
(Drone three has detected a participant group approximately 200 ters ahead,) Laura reported. (They appear to be engaged with an Earth Bear. You should avoid them, the leader seems to be a D rank Awakened, the drone is too far to make a judgnt on her exact level.)
His visor displayed an alternate route that would add only thirty seconds to their journey while completely avoiding the conflict. As they moved along the new path, the distant sounds of magical combat—explosive spells, angered roars of a beast, and battle cries—confird the accuracy of his intelligence.
Vahn clicked his tongue in wonder as he heard all this, an amazed light finding its way to his eyes. "We’re really lucky we have your inventions to lead the way."
"We’d have no chance if we were on our own in such an environnt." Yuri nodded in agreent, a breath of relief leaving her lips as she finally heard the sounds of combat die down due to distance.
"Don’t stop, praise more." Ezekiel gave an amused smirk as he glanced back at them, his expression practically asking to be mauled.
Vahn’s brow twitched, his amazent suddenly washed away as he glanced at his friend’s narcissistic smirk. "Forget I said anything."
"A sha." The chanic snickered, his movents never pausing though.
"Show-off." Yuri muttered, her tone laced with annoyance.
(Significant discovery.) Laura announced. (Drone network has identified what appears to be an opening from the forest approximately 2.3 kiloters northeast of current position. However, multiple obstacles detected along all direct routes.)
"Figures. The trials would be too easily completed, if there weren’t hiccups like these." Ezekiel comnted, unsurprised by the dangers placed before him. He then turned to his friends and relayed the information. "You guys should get ready, we won’t be able to avoid the next fight."
The three moved forward cautiously, their movent fluid as they navigated through the forest, trying their best to avoid attracting the attention of any of the Mana beasts that surrounded them.
A panicked yell soon ruined their plans though, drawing their attention to a dashing female, her body coated by a dense amount of lightning as she tried her best to escape the charging monsters behind her.
The ferocious figure belonged to that of a bear, its fangs and claws gleaming brightly as it charged forward, the wind drifting past its spike-like brown fur.
Her eyes brightened in delight and hope when she took notice of Ezekiel and his companions. Unfortunately before she could even let out a plea for help, a sudden shadow consud her as the bear smashed into her figure, smashing her into the ground and leaving only a mushed corpse behind before it glared at Ezekiel and his friends.
(Scan complete. It’s a peak D rank Bloodthirsty Bear. Plotting escape route.)
"Fuck, run!" The chanic yelled out in panic, uncaring of the attention he would gather as he ntally commanded his Windchasers to engage its thrusters, the propulsion pushing into the air. "Follow !"
The bear, perhaps angered by the fact that its prey sought to run away from it, roared in anger before imdiately giving chase, uncaring of the mangled corpse it left behind. The forest trembled as its paws left inches deep imprints on the forest ground as it dashed forward, a bloodthirsty light shining in its eyes.
"It’s catching up! Push your boots to the limit!" Ezekiel replied, already adjusting their route. His drones had identified a narrow ravine ahead—too small for the massive bear but near perfect for human-sized participants.
The three didn’t waste any ti before dashing into the ravine, uncaring of the wounds caused by the rocks they hit due to their hurried and unstable flight.
They rushed through just as the bear broke through an underbrush, its massive 4 ter height tearing disregarding any obstructions as it crashed onto the edges of the ravines. Fortunately, as powerful as its body was, it couldn’t squeeze even a forearm into the ravine.
The bear roared unwillingly in anger, smashing against the edges a few more tis before finally giving up and leaving the area.
"Is it gone?" Yuri asked, relief laced in her tone as she glanced at the empty forest outside the ravine.
Ezekiel smiled wryly. "Nope. This bear possesses quite a bit of intelligence, the bastard is still waiting a bit out of sight."
The chanic’s heart trembled with surprise as he relayed the images transmitted to him by his drones on the outside. He couldn’t dare to imagine how much participants would suffer at the paws of such an atrocious beast.
"That... Is it possibly bred?" Vahn asked in surprise. His words carried logic though, as even D rank Mana beasts were far from possessing enough intelligence to hold off their blood thirst and patiently wait for their victims to co out unawares.
That feature was only accessible to B or A rank Mana beasts. So the only other possibility was that the bear had been specially bred by the Institute to cause trouble for the participants.
Finally, after 10 minutes of waiting, an angered roar burst out from outside the ravine, evidently from the waiting bear. It seed to have finally given up on the group and had moved on to find easier prey.
Only after confirming this from the drones on the outside, did Ezekiel finally sigh in relief and lead his friends out.
"Seriously, we seem to be running into situations like these more and more these days." A wry smile appeared on his lips as he stared at the damaged ravine before he finally turned away.
Hearing his words, Vahn and Yuri could only let out despondent chuckles, agreeing fully with him.
Sighing once more, the chanic spread out his drones once more before turning west. "Let’s go. I’m getting tired of all this green."
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