Divinity

--- [Leon’s perspective]

Now that I have a flag, I just need to get back.

If I hurry up, I can still be the second person to return.

Someone may have taken the first place already, but I won’t allow anyone to take the second.

That would just be embarrassing…

Now then, let’s hurry back!

I continue to run through the forest for a little while, but I don’t recognize anything.

Shit.

Don’t tell me I ran in the wrong direction…

Let me think…

When I woke up, I was at the base of a large tree.

The bark on the tree was destroyed right at the place where I woke up.

That makes sense considering I was sent flying.

So logically, the way back should be in the same direction that the destroyed bark is facing, right?

That’s the direction I’ve been running in, yet I still haven’t returned to where we fought…

Could someone have picked me up and moved me while I was unconscious?

I guess it’s possible, but why would anyone do that?

I could understand searching me for a flag, but why move me to some random spot?

That by itself already makes no sense, but considering there was a flag right there, it must be something else…

Is it possible that I hit some trees or other obstacles on the way that changed the path I was flying in?

That’s certainly possible, although I would have assumed I’d get scratched up all over if that was the case…

Something is weird going on here…

I’m not sure what though.

Am I overthinking this?

Maybe the answer is super simple and I’m just missing it…

I keep running while I think about it.

Some more time passes, then eventually…

Wait…

This is it!

This is where we fought.

So, my first thought was right; the way back was the same way the broken bark was facing.

But that means…

…

How fucking far did he launch me?!

What the hell kind of monster is he…

This exam will be much more interesting than the last one, that’s for sure.

The only thing that could make it more interesting now, is if those shitheads from the F-rank exam are here…

I start running directly back to where we started.

A short while passes and I finally get there.

It’s less than 100 meters away.

“EH!” – Leon

What the hell?!

A guy just tackled me out of nowhere!

Wait, he took my flag!

“Thanks, loser.”

“Get the fuck back or I will crush your skull…” – Leon

“Nah.”

You little…

He starts sprinting towards the camp, but I quickly get up and chase after him.

He’s just a few meters away, but I manage to jump forward and grab his ankle, making him fall over.

I drag him back towards me.

“Uaaah, let go of me!”

“Hmm… ‘Nah.’” – Leon

He tries to get out of my grip but realizes that he isn’t strong enough.

He throws the flag away, in an attempt to make me go after that instead, but I don’t stop.

“I told you I would crush your skull if you didn’t stop…” – Leon

“Please! I’m sorry! Just take the flag!”

“You should have liste- SHIT!” – Leon

There’s another guy right there, going for my flag.

Fuck!

I let go off the guy and run after the flag instead.

I manage to grab the flag before the other guy does, but the one that tackled me got away.

Tsk…

Lucky bastard…

The other guy that tried to steal the flag from me runs away too, he probably figured I was too strong from how I dealt with the guy that tackled me.

I guess I’ll just head back…

I walk the few meters that are left, then Leanne comes up to me.

“Congratulations! You’re the second person to pass the first round of the E-rank exam.” – Leanne

Directly after that, the loud voice that called out the first person returning comes back.

“The second contestant has returned. Only eight flags remain.”

“You can go wait over there with the other person who has returned.” – Leanne

“Sure.” – Leon

I walk over to the place she pointed at.

There’s a person laying on that bench, are they sleeping?

As I get closer, I realize who it is.

“Ho… Ly… Shit…” – Leon

--- [Shin’s Perspective]

“The second contestant has returned. Only eight flags remain.”

Not good, more people are starting to return.

I need to figure out how to beat this guy before it’s too late.

If I don’t get this flag, then that will mean only seven will be left.

Alex will obviously find one, meaning that unless the person who just returned was Alex, only six flags will remain.

That’s just over half.

There is a very real possibility of not finding another one at that point…

I need to get this flag!

Lucas runs up to me and throws a barrage of attacks.

I focus on dodging and blocking, none of the attacks deal any serious damage.

Maybe he is worse at dodging certain attacks?

I throw a kick to his side.

What the…!

It literally connected with him, but he used the momentum of the kick itself to spin himself around and roll off it.

Like when you spin a ball on your fingertip and slap it; you’d expect it to go flying, yet it only spins faster.

While my leg is still in the air, he quickly turns back around throws a punch at it, but I was able to retract just in time.

There doesn’t seem to be any weaknesses…

I’m totally unable to deal any damage to him…

I hate to do this, but I only have one choice now…

I keep hopping backwards while he follows me.

I jump up and try to slam my leg down on him, but as expected, he dodges.

He takes the opportunity and punches me.

“Ah!” – Shin

I block, but it still hurts.

I get sent flying, but…

This is all a part of my plan.

I positioned myself in such a way, and baited him into attacking me, that I’d fly towards the flag on the ground.

“I hate to do this, but it seems like I won’t be able to beat you right now.” – Shin

I grab the flag on the ground, then run away.

He chases after me while yelling.

“Hey! Get back, coward! You’re the one that suggested this fight, don’t back out just because you’re weak!” – Lucas

He’s right…

I am a coward.

God…

I hate having to do this, but I can’t afford to lose right now.

“I can’t give you the flag, but I’ll make up for it in the second round!” – Shin

“HAH! No way! You’re not getting away with the flag, asshole!” – Lucas

He speeds up and is slowly catching up to me.

This is bad…

He’s faster than me, it won’t take long before he catches up.

It would be too humiliating if I pulled something like this, then get caught…

No way!

I push myself even further and manage to speed up a little.

“GET BACK!” – Lucas

As he yells, his pace increases.

I had just managed to push myself as far as I could, it was just enough to overtake him in speed…

Then he just goes even faster…

This guy is insane…

He’s slowly creeping up on me, but I won’t give up.

I just need to make it back!

It’s not that far!

“The third contestant has returned. Only seven flags remain.”

Shit!

Unless one of them is Alex, that means only five flags would be left if I lose this one.

It just gets worse and worse…

I can’t let him catch me, no matter what!

I continue to sprint as fast as I possibly can, but he’s just getting closer and closer by the second.

I’m so close, the camp is right there!

He’s right behind me, he caught up…

“I’ve got you now!” – Lucas

We’re just a few meters away from the entrance.

He lunges forward with all his might.

He wraps his arms around my stomach, and we fall to the ground.

…

“Congratulations! You’re the fourth person to pass the first round of the E-rank exam.” – Leanne

Huh…

“WHICH ONE OF US PASSED?!” – Lucas

“The one in the white suit. He’s the one holding the flag. Sorry kid.” – Leanne

“Are you kidding me?!” – Lucas

I did it…

He managed to grab me, and we fell to the ground, but it was too late…

I just barely got past the finish line.

I was the one holding the flag, so I was the one who passed.

That was WAY too close…

We both stand up.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to do that either. I hate to admit this, but you’re stronger for me. You would have definitely beaten me…” – Shin

“Yeah, yeah… Whatever…” – Lucas

He looks bummed out, and for good reason…

He puts his hands in his pockets and walk away.

He’ll find another one, I just know it…

I’d hate for him to be my enemy in the second round, whatever that might be…