The Trial Participant trembled as he stripped off every piece of clothing in humiliation, left with only his underwear.
Before life and death, dignity and conditions were luxuries he couldn't afford.
The Spearman clutched the loot from the man's body, his eyes blazing with greed and delight.
"This feeling—amazing! So this is what it's like to be a Spirit Power User, to hold another's life in my hands? Hahaha!"
He laughed wildly. His companions cast strange glances—some disgusted, some indifferent, others thoughtful.
The Spearman slammed the man to the ground with the butt of his spear. "Scram! Count yourself lucky we didn't kill you. Weakling, why even show up?"
Face burning, the Trial Participant shouted "Withdraw," and the Giant Eagle carried him out of the arena.
Licking his lips, the Spearman generously split the spoils among the group.
"That was exhilarating! With numbers on our side we can grab number tags and loot without breaking a sweat."
"When the trial ends we'll all be rich—hahaha!"
The words stirred the others.
Most came from modest families; to grow strong as Spirit Power Users they'd need vast resources.
Robbing fellow participants felt morally uneasy, yet for their futures it seemed a decent bargain.
"Hey, what's to hesitate about?"
The Spearman curled his lip. "This is a dog-eat-dog world. They stepped in here knowing they could lose everything. We left them alive—that's mercy already."
As he gloated, the air gave a faint hiss.
Whoosh!
An arrow shot from distant foliage and buried itself in his neck.
Crack!
Though the head was blunted, the speed snapped his neck at a grotesque angle.
He crashed down, squealing like a stuck pig.
"Aaaargh! My neck—I'm dying! It's broken! Help, I don't wanna die!"
Agony flooded him; his head lolled. The slightest twitch sent knives of pain through his throat.
"Ambush!"
The other four ringed their fallen comrade; two sword-and-shield men raised round shields toward the arrow's origin.
Zhao Mu lay two hundred metres away behind a giant tree—utterly invisible.
He only smiled faintly, eyes sweeping the surroundings.
The screams drew two other five-man teams rushing to converge.
Zhao Mu didn't press the attack; he melted back into the forest.
Light and Agile Steps let him glide away like the wind, leaving no trace.
The five-man squad had toyed with their victim too loudly, catching Zhao Mu's attention.
He crept close; the group couldn't keep Spirit Power armour up constantly—it drained too fast.
Zhao Mu drew his bow and, from two hundred metres, put an arrow through the Spearman's neck.
Even if it wasn't lethal, the man was out of action for good.
Zhao Mu left with a smile.
"Keep his number tag safe—I'll come collect it later."
By the time reinforcements arrived, Zhao Mu had vanished without a trace.
Moments earlier the Spearman had swaggered, feeling supreme; now, head dangling, he stood only with help, looking absurd.
His head lolled against his shoulder, ridiculous and pitiful.
"Damn it, why didn't you catch the archer? Kill him! Curse it all!"
A twitch of his neck stabbed pain through him; he could only roar in rage.
Watching him, someone asked, "Hey, will your neck even heal?"
The Spearman froze. "Of course it will—"
A soldier nudged him; he shrieked.
"Agh! Don't touch—argh…"
The group exchanged glances.
No medic here; the arrow had wrecked his neck—he couldn't fight on.
"He's dead weight now. Keeping him drags us down."
A Trial Participant spoke flatly.
"Then quit."
Someone stared at the Spearman, voice cold and final.
"What? We're a team—teams help each other! You can't dump me!"
The others only sneered.
"We're temporary allies. No value, no stay."
Shing!
A Shield and Sword Wielder drew a short blade. "Hand over your tag and withdraw—don't make us do it the hard way."
The Spearman's heart turned to ice. "No! I got hurt for you!"
The sword-wielder lost patience. "Shut it."
He slashed the Spearman's thigh with the unsharpened blade.
The dull edge tore a long, shallow gash; blood streamed.
"Aaaargh!"
The Spearman collapsed, despair in his eyes. Moments ago he'd been the predator; now he was meat on the board.
He had no choice but to surrender his tag, shout "Withdraw," and let the eagle carry him away.
"Still—who was that hidden archer?"
A Trial Participant stared at Zhao Mu's former hiding spot, brows knit tight.
"Two hundred metres and he threads a neck shot—an Archery master."
"Could it be Zhao Mu—the one Young Master Jin wants?"
The Shield and Sword Wielder snapped his fingers. "Him? Likely. He took first in Archery at the Lujiang City joint exam."
He lifted his electronic wristband and pinged Golden Elephant City.
"Young Master Jin, we've probably located Zhao Mu."
Golden Elephant City smiled, eyes narrowing to slits.
"Excellent—no rash moves. We roll in like bulldozers; while he's still in the game he can't escape me."
Golden Elephant City had just crushed a powerhouse—Combat Level 4, C-grade talent.
But he'd brought fifteen men; they wore the foe down in waves until the man could no longer fight.
Golden Elephant City stepped in and eliminated him for good.
"No one survives against my legion!"
Golden Elephant City beamed. "First place in the Martial Trial is mine!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)