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n'If I remember correctly, it was the Puppetmancer class.'

nThere was a person who threatened others using an army of lifeless puppets.

nFrom giant-sized puppets to crush the masses to fly-sized puppets to spy on the strong.

nThe lunatic Puppetmancer, Armand Géroux.

nBy himself, he killed thousands of people, and used their resources to increase his force, and developed even greater strength. When fighting a large group of people, it was a class with an absolute advantage.

nHe alone could challenge an entire army. He alone was fitting of the title of a one-man army.

nEven so, Klautz slit his throat. During a war, he used his extreme hiding abilities to creep up to him and cut his throat.

nDrunk on blood, it was his fault for not being cautious.

nYes, indeed he had stepped on the bad side of his client and so he was instructed to kill him. However, he was one of the few people killing whom Klautz had no regrets.

nAfterward, Klautz remembered extorting his status to look at his history. From there he had got leads as to how to obtain the Puppet mancer class.

n'First, I need to get the Puppetmancer class,' was what Klautz thought.

nAnyone who clears the trial could have gotten the puppet mancer class however Armand has chosen to keep the location of the trial all to himself.

nFortunately, Armand was summoned a year later after Klautz. Therefore he believed he can acquire the Puppet Mancer class without trouble. After a year when Armand appears with the Puppet Mancer class, he would decide then and there regarding what to do with him.

nIndeed, a single trial can grant classes to multiple folks. However, humanity in Hellfeim was no longer united. It had already fallen apart into organizations, cities, and villages. And then there were lone warriors like Armond and Miki Shirogane with secret classes. The best trial sites were only enjoyed by the strong and the promising newbies who decided to work for the strong. The others were denied access for fear that someone amongst them may rise to power and threaten the positions of the strong. It was a strategic endeavor that they had devised to safeguard their positions. But alas they didn't know that such endeavors only work in the short term leading to humanity being massacred by the demons.

nNevertheless, if Klautz were to work alone he needs reliable allies. Puppets that will never betray him. He cannot trust anyone this early yet, especially since he is this weak.

nHowever, to reach the trial grounds he first needs to build up his strength enough to be able to challenge the trial. If he hopes to beat the trial at all. He has to grow at least strong enough to be able to walk around in the beginner's area without the monsters in the area being a threat to him.

nHe needs to gain strength enough to be able to leave the safepoint. The safepoint is protected by a magical barrier due to which only certain monsters at certain intervals of time are allowed to pass through. So the safepoint is relatively safe, the beginner's area is much harsher.

nThe beginner's area is riddled with dangers as well as opportunities. Monsters far strong than the Char Eagles lurking here and there. Monsters weaker than Char Eagles moving in packs and attacking in the group. You name it.

nAdditionally, the beginner's area also held a store for herbs that could be used to make antidotes against paralysis and poison. If one researched into it they would find that for every poisonous monster that existed in the forest there existed an equivalent herb that could cure their poison. This was the balance of nature, the ecosystem that existed here. It is just that some herbs are either too rare or are in the areas of extremely dangerous monsters.

nHe has to train in this safepoint so that he doesn't get killed as soon as he enters the beginner's area. To his luck, however, he knew a good way to train.

nSteve Larrison PoV

nSteve swung his fist in the air followed by a kick. If someone back on earth saw him from afar they might believe he is suffering from eighth-grade syndrome but not here. He seemed to be genuinely polishing his skills.

nWearing a gauntlet on his arms he seemed like a genuine warrior.

nHowever if one went closer to the man one would find him grinning. He was excited about his new life, the life he was currently leading. Filled with thrill, excitement, and danger. It was just a day he had been here and he could already feel the adrenaline gushing through him at all times.

nLittle did he know of the actual dangers that lay in wait for him in hellfeim. This was just a safepoint after all. This place was meant to have survivors, it was only there to weed out the weaklings of the bunch.

nBut as one would claim, 'ignorance is bliss'. And indeed so was true for him. Sometimes the participants were so frightened of the dangers that lurk here that they committed suicide out of pure fear. Others who were better off became paranoid and killed their very own friends. There even some who were so scared that they froze in fear. Failing to adapt to the circumstances and taking swift action they became easy prey in a situation that would have otherwise been harmless had they acted with haste.

nOnly a few, could act without any fear plaguing in their heart in this dystopia.

nSteve was one of the few who had received such a blessing.

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nAuthor's thoughts:

nLike my story? Add it to your library.

nAnd do drop some stones. Those stones are my salvation... my only motivation to continue writing, continue working.

nAnd do drop some reviews to let me know if you would want me to continue with this work.

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