Phew... Talk about a long battle. I'm now back in what General Veritates call the "altar room". Who knew that losing one battle would give me a realization and a sneak peek at the game's update at the same time? I have to thank Mom for the advice. If it wasn't for her, things could have repeated itself in a never-ending cycle. I should probably cook for her when I have the chance.
Now that the battle is over, I should be able to access my UI again. I decide to rest in the altar room for a while until I get my bearings together (and check up on Kazuki's mental health for a bit, which is good for now, thank god). Although, I don't know how long until I enter the second door. Now that I know battles like that can disable my use of the stats along with [Masteries] that lets me see my enemy's [HP], I can't rely on it too much if I want to get ahead against them. Not to mention there is a chance I'm limited to another [Mastery] again. My [Swordsmanship] leveled up a lot thanks to that battle. But I doubt it will be useful in the next battle ahead.
Honestly, I'm not surprised about being locked into my [Swordsmanship Mastery]. It reminds me of that one campaign Kazuki and I did with Dad as our GM. He was very relentless with the story and battle, but I barely survived with some lucky rolls and NAT20s.
However, another thing that tripped me off was not only the UI and locking the rest of my [Masteries]. It's the psychological play that Veritates put me in. From calling me out on my inability to decide for myself and my recklessness, he really pushed my buttons enough to barely kill me in our rematch. If that happens again in the second door...
You know what, I shouldn't worry too much about the "what-ifs". If I want to get through this [Hidden Quest], then it's better to act than to worry.
I've rested enough and stood up so I could unlock the door to the right and start the next trial.
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As I enter the next boss room, I notice that I'm not in an altar room or something similar to Veritates's throne. I look around to see I'm in a large forest with a sky covered in tree leaves and I'm standing on a large tree branch as I was now the size of a bird. Looking down from the branch, I can see it's a long way down to the ground considering I can't see it at all from here. Whoever came up with it somehow has a B+ on design. Either way, let's not beat around the bush.
"Alright, buddy! I beat General Veritates!" I shout. "How about it's time for you to show your face?"
[Huh. How rude of you to call me out without recognizing your surroundings first.]
Suddenly, I hear the leaves rustling above me. I look up and see a blur jumping from branch to branch above me. I can't locate where they are heading as many more were rustling. But I stop when I look forward and see the face of my next opponent. To my surprise, they aren't like General Veritates. They look human with a feminine build, and yet I can't tell if they are a boy or a girl from their long blue hair, narrow blue-gray eyes, and a...small chest. Thank god I didn't ask out loud if they are a girl.
"You must be the master of this room, right?" I ask as I show the keys I obtained so far. "My name is Wind and I'm here to tackle the second trial of the [Test of Courage]."
The boss stares at my keys for a while. [Hmmmm... The [Key of Conviction]. Normally, I would have shrugged off people claiming to defeat the [Former General of Convictions], but having his key is proof that you truly defeat him. That is the golden rule of this test.] They jump down from the top branch and land on the one in front of where I'm standing. [I am <Acutus>, the [Eagle of Perception] of the [Insignis Scouts]. Normally, we would have set up an [Animated Mithril Armor] for these kinds of tests. However, when I heard there was a half-[Insignis] who has a full-blood as his brother, I decided to see for myself if you are truly worthy to be with him.]
I glare at Acutus as soon as they mention my brother. Looks like this will be similar to Veritates after all. "So are you saying you're the one who's going to test me? I'm surprised they allow a living person to be the next b- I mean, test keeper for my second trial."
[Flattery will get you nowhere, kid. I may not look much, but if you chose this door first, I may not be as forgiving as Veritates. This trial will focus more on your eyes than strength alone.] Acutus brings out a bow and a quiver of arrows that they wear on their back. [If you managed to pierce through the obstacles obscuring your target, then you will pass the test. Although, you only need to hit me with one arrow as it is considered a pass. Consider it as a mercy from the Sages, I guess.]
"And if I lose or die?"
Acutus simply gives me a smirk. [Then try again until your spirit gives up. At that point, you will fail the test.]
Is that their way to mock me? Compared to Veritates, their insults feel a little weak compared to how he called me out on being an overprotective brother with no goals in life.
"As if I'm going to give up." I quickly take out my bow and arrows as my response to their threats. "If you want me to fail, then try killing me first."
[Hmph... Guess Veritates really worked you out, huh? Let's put it to the test, shall we?]
They snap their fingers and suddenly, white light flashes before my eyes. I am quickly blinded before I can cover my eyes. But when my sight recovers after a while, I gasp to see that Acutus is gone.
[One tip for you, kid. Nature can be very deceiving,] Acutus's voice echoed through the forest. [Good luck.]
[NOTICE]
[You are only allowed to use [Archery] weapons for this battle. You are also allowed to use your [Hunting], but it has been adjusted to Level 5. Any other weapons and [Masteries] are restricted until the end of the battle.]
[NOTICE]
[Due to the nature of this battle, you cannot check the [HP] on both combatants, including the current stats on yourself.]
[As a result of this, the [Stat] window is now disabled for this battle.]
Here we go again. This time, I'm also allowed to use the [Hunting Mastery] for this battle alongside my [Archery], albeit with a few caveats such as its level being temporarily lowered to 5. I'm guessing this is their way to make this test more manageable for me. Though it's not like they made it too easy compared to the last one. I'm also concerned about their advice before they disappeared into the woods. "Nature can be deceiving"... I'm guessing I have to rely more on my other senses than my eyes if I want to pass this trial. Maybe if I close my eyes and hear some rustling from the leaves, I might...
SWOOP!
...What the hell?! I barely got hit by an arrow that came from above me! The problem is that I didn't see where it was fired from. Maybe that's what I get for being savvy with those "feel, don't see" tropes.
[You can't stand around if you don't want to get hit with my arrows, kid!]
Okay, this guy or gal is starting to get on my nerves. Still, I have to take something from Veritates's battle and not let them get to me mentally. I quickly take out my bow and arrows before I jump from branch to branch in my attempt to get away from wherever they fired their arrows. I have to play smart unless they keep toying with me with their taunts.
Once I find a hiding position in the form of a tree hollow, I use [Eagle Eye] to search for my opponent around the large forest. I know this skill is mainly used to search items, but it's not like I have a choice for that matter. [Investigate] only works if I see my enemy and I know they still have [Stealth] on them if they have the same skills as me. Plus, they've limited my [Hunting Mastery] to Level 5 for a reason. [Minor Danger Sense] lets me detect if there is an incoming attack that targets me and my party and [Minor Climbing Expertise] allows me to climb up trees (including oversized ones) with ease. So I understand why they give me a handicap. They're serious about making this test not easy for me.
TWANG!!!
I gasp as another arrow hits behind my hiding spot. Damn it, if I don't figure this out fast, I'm heading for a quick death.
Come on, Wind! Think! Should I do that "feel, don't see" trick? Like that ever help me in a video game. How does it even translate into the gameplay itself?
...Maybe it is. I almost forgot one skill I have with me. If I combine it with one of my passive skills, I might get an edge against Acutus. I take a deep breath while closing my eyes. I don't have to rely on sight first if I make this work. I focus on a certain sense to locate them until...
RUSTLE...
Gotcha.
"[Owl's Vision]!"
I open my eyes and ready my bow and arrow. I get up from my hiding spot and look up at the tree leaves. As soon as I see them, I smile to see some of them rustling, but I don't feel any breeze right now.
"[Corkscrew Pierce]!"
I release the arrow from the bowstring and let it fly to my target.
[CRITICAL]!
Bullseye. Looks like I was right. I see a familiar [Insignis] archer appear out of nowhere as they stare at the arrow stabbed right into their...chest?! Crap, I might have overdone it!
Or did I? They aren't gasping for air when they have an arrow stuck in the heart.
[L-Lucky shot, kid. You have good ears.]
I glare at Acutus. Yeah, that seemed too easy. But not exactly as I needed to figure out how to locate them. If I forgot that I have [Sensitive Hearing], I would have ended up with an arrow in my chest instead.
"Hmph... "Flattery will get you nowhere." Isn't that what you said?" I recall. "Besides, I never expect you to be bad at [Stealth]. Someone like me would have tried not to move while hiding in the bushes or tree leaves."
[At least you learned a lot about "Stealth 101", even if you didn't study at a proper school like I was.]
Was that even a flex? God, I wonder what happens if I tell them that I'm still a high-school student in real life after saying that right in front of my face. "Whatever. I already hit you with my [Corkscrew Pierce], so it's game over for you. Unless I hit the real Acutus..."
God, I hope I did. Otherwise, this trial might become a tad bit complicated. But as if fate confirms my fears, Acutus gives me a smirk. [At least there's one thing I like about you. You're not as airheaded as the other participants...]
Acutus suddenly disappears like smoke just as another arrow phases through it. I quickly jump away before it can hit me before firing mine at the source of it with [Tracking Aim]. It's another hit thanks to the skill's ability to hit my target without fail. But I gasp upon seeing their body falling from the leaves above me and disappearing the same way a few seconds ago. Then a third one flies in from behind. This time, it grazes through my face just as I dodge it again. I hear another rustling sound with my [Sensitive Hearing] and I don't waste any time firing another shot to my right. I see the Insignis archer collapse from my attack, but I freeze as I see them disappear in smoke again.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!"
I rarely curse in and out of the game since Kazu is always by my side. But I feel it's appropriate since not only he's not here, but they are starting to drive me mad. There is no way they could possess a skill like that! I've never heard of a skill that lets them appear and disappear from both of our...
Unless...
[Have you figured it out yet, kid? Ol' Veritates should have told you all about it.]
Yeah, it all makes sense. A skill like that doesn't exist with both [Masteries] we're allowed to use, but there is one exception.
"Don't tell me. You have a [Unique Talent] as well. Along with a skill to avoid death and my arrows," I guess. "Dammit, I felt so stupid. Fighting against a person who has a cheat skill to avoid getting hit of some sort. This is turning into a total pain..."
Me against an archer who defied death... This test might be harder than Veritates's than I thought...
-----
Current Quest: Test of Courage ***
Type: [Hidden]
Status: In Progress
Party Members:
[Wind]
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Wind's Masteries
[Archery] Level 19
[Woodcrafting] Level 10 [Restricted]
[Swordsmanship] Level 21 [Restricted]
[Cooking] Level 9 [Restricted]
[Wind] Level 16 [Restricted]
[Physical Enhancement] Level 17 [Restricted]
[Hunting] Level 15
[Blacksmithing] Level 18 [Restricted]
[Dagger] Level 6 [Restricted]