A man ran at unimaginable speeds while carrying a huge sack on his back. He jumped through the trees, stormed through the rivers… nothing could stop it.

But a cave with a boulder covering its mouth did. He stopped and tossed the sack to the side cracking up his knuckles. He pushed the boulder away with all of his strength. Veins popped up on his forehead until the boulder finally began to move to create enough space for a man to pass through.

He took the sack again and entered into the darkness.

***

*Splash*

"Wake Up!

"

A splash of water on Klautz's face made him wake up to be greeted by Akihiko.

Klautz was knocked unconscious and taken away by Akihiko. Thankfully no one else can sabotage one's inventory otherwise lots of Klautz's secrets would have been revealed.

Klautz opened his eyes. He had question marks on his face despite knowing it all.

"Good, you are at the first stage of the trial. Hope you farewell

"

Saying so Akihiko disappeared wrapped up in a viridescent hue. Klautz got up stretching his arms not minding Akihiko leaving. He didn't even mind Akihiko knocking him out. That was something unavoidable and also important to show his sincerity.

The ninjas have a lot of these trial sites under their possession which hold the skills and weapons as their rewards. No matter how small the trial is, they are well hidden from the public's eyes for fear that they might be sabotaged or forced to give away.

'This is a similar trial ground monopolized by the ninjas.'

That is why Klautz was knocked out. So that he cannot discern its exact location. Which was necessary if not, the other guilds would easily take away the trial site from a possible leak leading to a huge mess. The power of the ninjas is not to be trifled with and must never fall under the wrong hands.

Klautz hated the ninjas but it could have been worse if it fell under someone else's hands. At least the ninjas were just tools. They were not blinded by power. Should it fall at the hands of a tyrant it would lead to a large loss of human lives.

Klautz stretched his body that had become cramped. Who knew how Akihiko had taken him here? That is when a realization struck upon Klautz. His face turned ashen.

'Wait, is my 'thing' fine?'

Klautz slipped his hands between his legs to check. Akihiko was not to be trusted.

"Phew!

"

Klautz breathed a sigh of relief removing a bead of sweat from his forehead knowing that his brother was safe. His little speech from before had done wonders on Akihiko.

'Maybe he believed it.'

Klautz took out a torch from his inventory and burned it to lighten up the dark surrounding him. He was in a cave.

He took the first step.

Welcome to Coward's trial

A message popped up in front of Klautz. And he knew that he was in the right place.

'Coward'

A word popularly used as a synonym for ninjas in hell. Yes, indeed a ninja attacks always from behind your back without any declaration… in the most cowardly way.

"Damn Akihiko. Sending me to such a low level trial

"

Klautz clicked his tongue. He was worrying for nothing. The trial was an easy one… so easy in fact that Klautz cannot even expect much at the end of it as a reward. In fact, it was much easier than the Trial of control back at the tutorial zone.

"Roar!

"

Klautz extended the torch to find that a score of low level gnolls was running towards him from a distance. Klautz was even more disappointed with the trial of finding out who his enemies were.

'What am I going to get at such a site? That Akihiko sure was stingy'

"Welp can't expect much from him anyway.

"

*slash*

Klautz walked forward as he killed the gnolls without breaking a sweat.

You have cleared the first stage of Coward's Trial

Proceed to the next stage? (Yes

/No)

"Wait, that was it for the stage?

"

Klautz raised his brows.

'Damn Akihiko! Wasting my time here.'

But Klautz wanted whatever was at the end of it. Even if it was a weak trial, he could expect something good as it was under the possession of the ninjas.

"Fuck, can't waste my time here. Gotta clear this up fast.

"

***

The trial had three stages. Even the number of stages was less than the Trial of Control let alone the strength of the mobs.

But…

Something caused Klautz to frown.

"What are you doing here?

"

Maebi stood in front of him. He had a Gnoll under her custody all tied up. The stage was supposed to have 60 Gnolls but Klautz had only killed 59 so far. The last one was still alive, Maebi had safeguarded it before Klautz could reach it. And Klautz couldn't clear the stage if it was not killed.

Maebi took out her ninjato from its sheath. Gone were the days when Klautz had to carry one. His Tossias' demonic spirit was enough.

"To pass this trial you have to fight me.

"

'Is this some kind of joke? What are you planning for Akihiko?'

Klautz was 100 per cent certain that Maebi wouldn't kill him. She is a ninja. They don't kill without a bonafide mission.

In the past too, those ninjas who had dared to breach this rule were either mercilessly killed in front of everyone or chased to the ends of hell! These were the so called rogue ninjas and no one would want to be one. No one wanted to bear the wrath of the entire ninja village.

If Maebi had no reason to fight Klautz. Why does she point her sword at him?

'This wasn't in my calculations.'

'But it's not hard to guess what that Akihiko wants.'

***

Author:

Creation is hard. Cheer me up with your power stones.

Let me know your thoughts about the chapter in the comments sections.