Divinity

--- [Leon’s perspective]

“The first contestant has returned. Only nine flags remain.”

WHAT?!

How?!

We literally just started!

I won’t let anyone else get back before me, no way.

If I can’t even beat these losers, then what does that make me?

I’ll be the second one back, no matter what.

I continue running around for a little while, then…

What’s that noise?

It’s like…

A giant?

It sounds like a giant walking.

The ground is shaking, the wind is blowing, and the loud thuds of its footsteps are resonating through the forest.

As I continue to run, the sound just gets more and more intense.

Even the trees are shaking.

I’m getting closer and closer to the source with every passing moment, until I see something…

Is that?

Is that him?

He’s tall, and extremely muscular, but…

He’s not nearly heavy enough to create shockwaves like that just from walking…

Is he purposefully stomping the ground as hard as he can?

Is this some sort of intimidation tactic?

Pft.

Whatever.

He won’t scare me.

I jump towards him, right from his blind spot.

Ahaha, he’s gonna die without ever knowing what happened to him!!

!!

The attack connects, but…!

“What the hell?” – Leon

The man turns around.

He looks me in the eye.

What the fuck?

I just hit him as hard as I could, yet he came out completely unscathed…

“Did you think an attack of that caliber would work?” – Kuro

Who does he think he is?!

“Die, dumbass!” – Leon

I bite my lips and they start to bleed.

My eyes glow red and I throw another punch straight at him.

He stops my attack with his hand but is pushed back.

How the hell did that only push him back?!

“Not bad. Not bad for a Divinity user that is.” – Kuro

“What the fuck do you mean ‘for a Divinity user’?” – Leon

“True strength is not something you can get by borrowing your power from the elements. I’ll show you true power.” – Kuro

He slowly walks up to me.

Is he dumb?

Does he really think I’m just going to let him attack me?

He continues to slowly walk up to me, and when he gets within striking range, he throws a punch.

I duck under it and dash towards him; following it up with a barrage of attacks to his stomach.

He doesn’t seem very hurt…

Before I’m able to get away, he manages to grab me.

Shit!

I quickly rip my shirt off, setting me free.

I need more power.

This isn’t enough!

I bite my left hand and another surge of power flows through me.

This should be enough.

I throw a massive punch straight towards him; he counters it with a punch of his own.

Our fists clash, and…!

“GAH!” – Leon

He overpowers me, sending me flying away.

How is that even possible?!

Ugh…

I feel like…

My consciousness…

…

…

…

--- A few minutes later

“AH! Where am I?” – Leon

God…

That punch of his knocked me the fuck out…

I’m still in the forest, but I have no idea where…

Which way is the way back again?

Uhh…

Let’s see…

I was there, and I was hit that way.

I think…

Okay.

I think I know the way.

But whatever, I need to focus on getting a flag first.

That guy though…

Who the hell is he?

He’s a fucking monster…

He said something about…

Muscles?

I don’t get it.

He’s probably another SDM user, just like me.

This isn’t the F-rank exam…

There might not be many, but there are bound to be more SDM users like me.

They’re the ones I need to keep an eye on the most.

I don’t ever want a repeat of what happened in the F-rank exam ever again…

Those little shits…!

If they’re here, then I hope to God I run into them.

They embarrassed me and I won’t forgive them for that.

We’re not on a team anymore either, so I don’t have to hold back on them.

Ooooh, just imagining their faces smashed into the ground brings a big smile to my face.

If I see that muscle guy again, I’ll bash his face in too.

Standing there talking about ‘true strength’ when he doesn’t know shit.

If I hadn’t underestimated him, I would have crushed him.

I know myself, and I know could have overpowered that punch if I was hurt enough.

Some cuts or a few broken bones and he’d be dead.

But whatever, I’ll get my chance eventually.

Either I destroy them in the second round, whatever that may be, or they lose in round one.

It’s a lose-lose for them, and a win-win for me.

So, no need to think too fussed about it.

Now, all I need to think about is finding a flag.

Getting sent all the way over here might be a good thing.

I doubt many people have been all the way over here.

If there is a flag in this area, it should still be here.

She said the flags are hidden, so they probably aren’t in plain sight.

Maybe on the top of a tree?

Or under a rock?

Let’s just check everywhere.

I run around as quickly as I can, checking every single spot.

No rock is left unturned.

It took a little while, but sure enough, in the end I did find one!

Hahahaha, what a dumbass!

Sent me flying right to where one of the flags were hidden.

That’s so fucking funny!

Well, anyways…

Round one is as good as done.

I just need to get back, then I’m good.