Chapter 10: The Games Begin


    Two days had passed, and Han Ming and Wei''er had yet to achieve anything. They had encountered a few lone enemies, but after a tense standoff, both sides had retreated without taking action.


    "This can''t go on," Han Ming said, making a small mark on a tree. The wilderness was vast, and the plants all looked the same. Without markers, they risked getting lost even if they managed to obtain tokens. "We have to return in two days. If we don''t make it back within the seven-day limit, we''ll be eliminated. That''s a hard rule. I''m sure the black-clad figures are already watching us. If we don''t return on time, they''ll come for us."


    Wei''er sat on the ground, rubbing her sore feet. She looked at Han Ming apologetically. "I''m sorry. I''m holding you back. If it weren''t for me..."


    Han Ming waved her off. "Don''t say that. This is a place where trust is scarce. Having a companion is a good thing. At least I''m not alone. Besides, you can watch my back, right?"


    Wei''er nodded silently. She knew Han Ming was just trying to comfort her, but she didn''t argue. During their time in the cave, Han Ming had often encouraged her and kept her company. He had even saved her during the test. She knew that if she continued to feel discouraged, she would only let him down. The only thing she could do was follow him quietly and try to be useful. She had wisely refrained from asking how Han Ming had communicated with her in the cave. Everyone had their secrets, and she was no exception.


    After finishing the mark, Han Ming scanned the area but found no targets. He considered moving on but decided against it when he saw how exhausted Wei''er was. As a girl, she was naturally weaker, and the year of confinement had taken a toll on her stamina. He didn''t want to push her too hard. Besides, whether they moved or stayed, the risk of encountering enemies was the same.


    "Wei''er, do you have a dream?" Han Ming asked.


    Wei''er nodded softly. "I do, but you can''t laugh at me."


    Han Ming smiled encouragingly.


    Blushing, Wei''er said, "I want to be a water mage."


    Han Ming was surprised. "Being a mage is a common dream, but why water? I''ve heard that water mages are the weakest. They lack the offensive power of other elements, the healing abilities of wood mages, and the survivability of earth mages. It''s considered a rather... underwhelming path. And it''s not like you can choose your element. Your affinity is determined at birth."


    Wei''er bit her lip, hesitating before finally speaking. "Actually... I''m already a water mage. Well, more of an apprentice, and not even a proper one. But when I was little, my country was ravaged by war. One day, enemies broke into our home and killed my parents. Just as they were about to kill me, a beautiful mage named Aina saved me. She told me to be brave and took me to another country, where she raised me for over a decade. She was a water mage. While mages are highly respected, she was looked down upon by the other elements in the Mage Guild."


    Wei''er''s voice trembled as she continued. "She believed water mages weren''t inherently weak. To prove it, she experimented with new spells. Once, she returned from a trip covered in death energy. When the other mages found out, they demanded she take her own life. People tainted by death energy eventually go mad and become enemies of humanity. Because of her status, they allowed her to end her own life. Before she died, the guild leader asked if she had any last words. She said she hoped water mages would one day be strong and respected. She believed water mages shouldn''t be seen as weak."


    Han Ming was stunned. He hadn''t known Wei''er was a water mage apprentice, nor had he expected her to have such a tragic past. Losing her parents and then her guardian—it was too much for a young girl to bear. He held her tightly, unsure how to comfort her.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Wei''er whispered, "I want to fulfill her wish..."


    "Is that so?" a voice suddenly interrupted.


    Startled, Han Ming and Wei''er turned to see a black-clad figure standing behind them.


    The figure looked at Wei''er emotionlessly. "Demonstrate your magic, or I''ll kill him."


    Wei''er panicked. "No! I''ll do it."


    She stood up, closed her eyes, and raised a hand. After a moment, a tiny blue droplet formed at her fingertip, shimmering and translucent.


    The black-clad figure nodded. "Good. You don''t need to participate in this round of the games. Come with me."


    Wei''er shook her head desperately. "No! I won''t leave Han Ming."


    Before the figure could respond, Han Ming spoke up. "Go with him, Wei''er. This is for the best. At least you won''t have to face the brutality of the games. I''ll be fine. Without you, I won''t have to worry about protecting you. And you can''t die here. If you do, who will carry on Aina''s dream?"


    The black-clad figure glanced at Han Ming, then said to Wei''er, "Coming with me doesn''t mean you''re exempt from the games. I''m taking you to activate your water mark. You''ll still have to participate in the next seven-day test."


    Relieved, Wei''er reluctantly said goodbye to Han Ming and followed the figure. She knew she couldn''t help Han Ming now, but if she could activate her water mark, she might be able to support him in the future.


    "Water mark?" Han Ming muttered to himself after they left.


    "Every mage must activate their elemental mark to advance. From apprentice to mage, and so on, each stage requires activation. Without it, they can''t use the corresponding spells. Warriors are the same. Each rank requires a battle aura activation. The marks appear on the chest. For mages, the marks vary by element: water, fire, earth, wood, and wind. Warriors have a single battle aura mark. The shape of the mark changes with each rank. For example, a water mage''s apprentice mark is a single droplet, while a mage''s mark is two droplets. After awakening, the mark disappears, and further advancements don''t require activation. Fire marks are flames, wood marks are leaves, earth marks are diamonds, wind marks are rings, and battle aura marks are crosses."


    Han Ming nodded. So that''s how it worked.


    The voice belonged to Catherine, who had been following Han Ming invisibly. She occasionally spoke to him but mostly remained silent. She had made it clear that she wouldn''t intervene to save him. Han Ming understood. He was just an ordinary person, and she had no reason to risk herself for him. She had only stopped him from committing suicide in the cave because he was still useful to her. Now, she was too weak to expose herself.


    Han Ming stretched and prepared to move on. As he reached for the food Wei''er had left him, a white-clad figure appeared.


    "Leave the food, and I won''t kill you."


    Han Ming looked up to see an enemy dressed like him. This was bad. He had known he would eventually face enemies, but he hadn''t figured out how to defeat them. He was too weak compared to most. Still, he couldn''t just hand over the food. He didn''t trust the man to spare him.


    Seeing Han Ming hesitate, the man sneered. "Fine. Die, then." He swung his blade at Han Ming.


    Caught off guard, Han Ming barely had time to react before the blade was upon him. He couldn''t dodge in time.


    Suddenly, a massive mouth burst from the ground, swallowing the attacker whole. The man didn''t even have time to struggle before the jagged teeth crushed him. Blood splattered as bones snapped. In seconds, the man was gone, and two round tokens were spat out at Han Ming''s feet.


    Han Ming stumbled back, horrified. The mouth belonged to a plant—a monstrous, carnivorous plant!


    Catherine''s figure materialized with a sigh.


    Though he had seen her many times, Han Ming was still struck by her breathtaking beauty. He swallowed hard and asked, "Did you do that?"


    Catherine waved her hand, and the plant vanished into the ground without a trace. "This is the last time. I didn''t want to save you, but you would''ve died otherwise. Consider it repayment for the blood I''ve taken from you. There won''t be a next time. In this world, strength is everything. Saving you once won''t change your fate. If you want to survive, you''ll have to grow stronger. But your body isn''t suited for magic or battle aura. You''re fighting a losing battle. I only acted out of pity. From now on, you''re on your own. You have your tokens. Use your time wisely. Good luck." With that, she disappeared.


    Han Ming stood frozen, stunned by what he had just witnessed. This was his first glimpse of magic in this world, and it was far more terrifying than he had imagined. A plant that could devour a person in seconds—it defied everything he knew. Catherine must be a wood mage. In his world, wood magic was portrayed as summoning wooden weapons or defensive barriers. He had never imagined it could create living, monstrous plants that acted like predators.


    This was beyond incredible.


    Han Ming''s eyes sparkled with awe. No matter what, he wanted to become a mage. It was simply too amazing!