The cold tone of the Death Hall Master, and the sight of that boy’s lifeless body falling down, sent chills through everyone’s spine. They all understood one thing; that the seed was inside that swamp.

  Even if by mistake that seed managed to come out, the children still wouldn’t be safe.

  They would have to guard that seed, so that no one could snatch it away from them. That was a difficult task.

  A very difficult one. Adarsh stood at the edge of the swamp, staring at it.

  The boys who had fallen into the swamp were now trying to search for that seed, they were searching as if they were not afraid of getting submerged in the large swamp.

  But what they didn’t realize was that by doing so, they were inviting their own deaths.

  As they used their hands and legs to search for the seed, their bodies began to sink deeper and deeper into the swamp.

  “Ahhh! I can’t get o...”

  One of the boys screamed. He had sunk so deep that he could barely speak.

  The thick water and mud of the swamp entered through his mouth and reached his lungs, killing him instantly.

  Flinch!

  A shiver ran down Adarsh’s spine.

  ‘What a merciless trial this is…’

  He had seen people die in the previous phase of trails too, but never in such a cruel way. His heart trembled.

  He didn’t know what to do. A drop of sweat fell from his forehead.

  He just stood there, watching the others die. And he wasn’t the only one everyone else was in the same state. They were Martial Artists; their bodies were strong, but not their souls.

  Who isn’t afraid of death?

  Everyone is. Death is the ultimate truth of this life, nothing is eternal. Everyone will die one day.

  But these kids don't want to die so early. Their life has just started only, who the fuck would like to die like this? In this dirty swamp?

  The same fear gripped them now. One wrong move, and their entire life would be over.

  “Looks like this year’s batch is taking quite a while.”

  “Hmm… well, it’s natural for them to be scared. This is a tough one after all.”

  “Tough? Hmph! The one three years ago was way worse.”

  “I was expecting those six wildcard participants to do something, but they aren’t even moving.”

  Far away from the swamp, guards dressed in black stood talking among themselves, making comments and sharing opinions.

  “If you’re talking so much, why don’t you go there yourselves?”

  The voice of the Death Hall Master silenced them all instantly.

  Even though those guards commented on those kids, they don't want to go through something like this themselves.

  The Death Hall Master looked at the children, and then at the incense stick in his hand. The incense stick was burning quietly, it was on its way to burn halfway through .

  He was curious to see how many would still have the seed by the end and how many would perish.

  ‘What’s he doing?’

  Then, Death Hall Master’s gaze fell upon Sharv.

  Unlike the others, Sharv wasn’t doing much just standing quietly at the edge of the swamp. Death Hall Master didn’t care if the others died. But at least Sharv had to survive.

  ‘...Should I help him a bit.’

  He thought to himself and was about to speak to Sharv through voice transmission, when suddenly...

  ‘?!’

  He sensed something.

  Turning around, he walked a few steps and then climbed up a rock, looking down the slope of the mountain.

  ‘Surendranath…’

  Even though no one else could see that far, the Death Hall Master could faintly make him out, and could also feel his internal energy clearly.

  - 3rd Elder. Stop right where you are!

  The Death Hall Master spoke through voice transmission. Surendranath was just about to climb the mountain.

  - Death Hall Master! I have a question for you!

  Surendranath replied through voice transmission, and received an answer.

  - What question?

  - Don’t act like you don’t know! Tell me where that boy is, the one I brought here this morning!

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  ‘Tch! He found out sooner than I thought.’

  The Death Hall Master thought to himself. He hadn’t expected Surendranath to arrive so quickly.

  But still, he had a plan to deal with him.

  - The boy?... Oh, that boy you brought this morning? He should be in the dungeon of my Death Hall.

  Surendranath clenched his teeth. He could tell that the Death Hall Master was playing dumb despite knowing the truth.

  - That boy isn’t there!

  - What?! How’s that possible?! There were so many guards...

  The Death Hall Master’s voice sounded shocked, but his face remained expressionless.

  - But tell me, if he escaped, then why are you here instead of chasing him?

  Surendranath cut him off coldly.

  - Just tell me straight, where is that boy?

  - That boy? Why would you...Ah! Don’t tell me you’re suspecting me now?

  - Yes! I suspect you. After all, you’re the Death Hall Master. No one has ever escaped alive from your Death Hall’s dungeon, so how could that boy have done it without inside help?!

  ‘He’s right…’

  It was nearly impossible to escape from the Death Hall’s underground dungeon.

  But since the Entrance Trials were being conducted, most of the guards were stationed here on this mountain. If not for that, Sharv would never have made it out.

  - I admit, no one can escape my dungeon. But right now, most of my men are up here. Only one-third of them were left to guard the dungeon. That’s why he managed to slip away.

  - …

  - Still, it’s not entirely my fault. I’m conducting the trials personally...

  Death Hall Master was about to continue when Surendranath interrupted.

  - I don’t want your excuses. Just tell me one thing; are you involved in this?

  - No. I don't really now what you're trying to say.

  The Death Hall Master said it plainly.

  A faint smile appeared on Surendranath’s face.

  - Then fine. If you had nothing to do with it, then let me search this mountain thoroughly. And stop the trials for a while.

  - What?!

  - You heard me right. Just let me check once, to be sure.

  The Death Hall Master clenched his jaw tightly and said,

  - I can’t allow that.

  - Why not?

  - Because it’s not in my hands.

  Surendranath frowned. The Death Hall Master continued,

  - I’ve received direct orders from the Society Leader, the trials must proceed without interruption. And since the Vice Leader himself is overseeing them through me, I can’t stop them.

  Surendranath shouted in anger,

  - Really? Because I’ve also received direct orders from the Society Leader, to bring that boy back immediately!

  - Then go look for him. Why are you here bothering me?

  - Because I suspect you...

  - Suspect? But Why?!

  The Death Hall Master interrupted,

  - Dual Blade Demon Surendranath. You suspect me, but do you have any proof? Did anyone saw me doing anything there?... Tell me; why do you even suspect me? Because I’m the Death Hall Master? Because he escaped my dungeon? Or… because of what happened seven years ago?

  ‘!!!’

  Hearing the mention of what had happened seven years ago made Surendranath’s blood boil. But he managed to control himself; he didn’t want to lose his temper.

  - Enough!

  Surendranath said sharply.

  - I don’t want to hear any more... You said the Vice Leader is directly conducting this trial through you, right? Then if I get his permission, will you allow me to investigate this place?

  - Yes! In that case, I’ll have no objections.

  - Then wait for me.

  Surendranath said his final words and turned to leave.

  He could have gone directly to the Society Leader for permission, but he chose not to.

  He had already angered the Society Leader once before, for failing to bring back ‘that thing’.

  If he were to return now with news that the boy had gone missing, who knew how furious the Society Leader would become with him this time?

  ‘At least getting permission from the Vice Leader will take a day that’s enough time.’

  The Death Hall Master thought to himself as he turned around and started walking back.

  ***

  “Huff! Huff!”

  Adarsh was inside the swamp, but only one of his hands still clung to the solid ground at the edge.

  He wanted to find the seed, but under no condition did he wish to die. By now, at least 30-35 people had already drowned in the swamp.

  Out of the few who were still searching for the seed, three of them actually found it!

  But sadly, one of them sank with it into the swamp’s depths.

  The other two tried to climb out, yet the people waiting near the edge tried to snatch the seeds from them, those two turned out to be the wildcard participants, who managed to keep the seeds for themselves.

  Right now, both of them were defending their seeds from others. Since they were stronger than most, they didn’t have much to fear, though the remaining four wildcard participants could still pose a threat.

  But those four hadn’t made a move yet.

  ‘If this keeps up, time will run out,’

  Sharv thought to himself. Then stepping forward, he entered the swamp.

  He was the first among the wildcard participants to do so. But unlike the others, he didn’t start flailing his arms and legs around, he simply stood still and calm within the swamp’s murky water.

  His body slowly began to sink, but at a lower rate than others.

  ‘Ugh! This is disgusting!!!’

  Vijay exclaimed.

  ‘I’ve seen filthier things than this…’

  Sharv’s master replied from within the sacred thread.

  Sharv looked around carefully, moving his limbs as little as possible to avoid sinking faster.

  “There it is!”

  Sharv suddenly said and started to move slowly toward a chubby boy nearby. That boy was surrounded by three or four others who were also searching the swamp for the seed.

  When the chubby boy saw Sharv approaching, he panicked and turned toward him.

  “W-Why are you coming toward me? What do you want?”

  Sharv gave a faint smile hided by the cloth on his face and looked toward the boy’s hand, hidden slightly behind his body.

  “You already know what I want.”

  Sharv said and grabbed the boy’s right hand.

  ‘..!’

  The chubby boy tried to pull away and looked at the boys behind him for help; but they ignored him completely.

  “L-Let go of me!”

  He struggled, trying to push Sharv away, but then...

  Crack!

  ‘!!!’

  Sharv twisted the boy’s arm backward, breaking it.

  “Ahhh!!!”

  The boy screamed in agony as his arm bent at an unnatural angle, drawing everyone’s attention.

  The boys behind him stared in shock, their eyes wide open at what they just witnessed.

  The chubby boy glared at Sharv, his face twisted in pain and rage.

  But Sharv didn’t care, he calmly began prying open the boy’s fingers one by one. The boy’s hand was trembling violently, making it easier to open.

  ‘?!’

  But there was nothing inside. Sharv’s brow furrowed slightly.

  “Haa! Now you're making this harder for me.”

  He muttered.

  Crack!

  And then snapped all five of the boy’s fingers backward, completely crushing them!

  “Ahhhh!—You Fucki...”

  The boy screamed, trying to punch Sharv with his other hand; but before he could...

  Pak!

  Sharv pushed his upper body down into the swamp, submerging his face completely.

  The boy struggled desperately, thrashing his arms and legs, but Sharv held him firmly in place.

  He didn’t stop until the chubby boy’s hand grasped Sharv’s wrist in a last, desperate attempt, and that’s when Sharv felt something round and solid in the boy’s palm.

  When he pulled the hand away, he found it, that seed. Seeing the seed in his fingers, an small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

  “Gasp!”

  He then looked at the chubby boy, in front of him, who was gasping for air. Luckily, he somehow survived.

  His eyes were filled with rage and fury, directed toward Sharv.

  ‘Tch! Annoying...’

  Sensing his gaze, Sharv lifted his hand and then...

  Pak!

  Submerged that chubby boy's face again in the swamp.

  Seeing this horrific sight, some kids trembled in fear, while some looked curiously towards the dying boy.

  Soon, the chubby boy's limbs which were before moving frantically, lost all the energy, and become lifeless. That chubby boy, he was dead.

  Killed by Sharv.

  SOCIETY LEADER WAITING FOR SURENDRENATH: