The Refuge of Fate

Chapter 116 - Hunting Competition

"Let the games begin!" The announcement shattered the tense silence coursing amongst the viewers and the participants as it echoed through every space of the empire.

In an instant, those who decided to join the competition immediately raised their guards as the giant carved woods that served as the entrance and the exit of the Hollow Nightmare opened its palms. Every second passing by the gates departed from each other, their hearts raced quicker to the point they could hear its beats in their ears.

Thud!

The moment they were fully opened, people started entering.

The participants can be classified into different groups in this event.

"Enter the gates now!" A man who comes by the name of Arlen Moskovich commanded loudly to the group of men surrounding him. He was wearing his own set of armor that cradled the scars of his previous battles. Lysander knew him as the captain of a higher knights' brigade and had been serving the empire for decades now.

A commander and a leader. The first group of people in the competition. They are fearless men who know the dangers that wait for them yet still persist against the threat and charge into combat regardless. Participants like Arlen are the first ones to enter the gates followed by the people who deem his commands as absolute.

Once their group had entered, the people that were around them looked at each other as if they had been communicating through gazes. They came up with a conclusion to move when Arlen entered.

They were classified to the second group.

Without a leader or commander to lead them, they are the warriors who do not have any affiliation to a group. However, they still have the courage to go second after the strong and confident ones have entered.

The lone nomads.

These people are by themselves and typically do not participate in group raids.

"The best of luck to you, captain!" Ramsen cheered as his eyes were literally twinkling in admiration of his one-handed captain. Perez shook his head and chuckled before he drew his sword and walked up to the gate.

Perez is one of the lone nomads. Being in groups would only cost him so much stress and anxiety when they are faced with strong monsters and the people around him start dying one by one.

The nomads typically do not have overly strong abilities but just enough to keep them alive in the outer grounds of Nightmare Hollow.

The Knight Captain looked up at the eerie and dark forest one last time before he took in a deep breath and took a step inside. His frame was now fully invisible from the people watching outside and all Ramsen could do was wave in anxiety for the captain to return alive.

"I wonder what kind of monsters are going to appear this year?" Ramsen shifted his gaze from the gate to his side when he heard a woman speak. When his gaze landed on her, he immediately took a step away and lowered his head.

"G-Greetings, Lady Carmen. I-I wish you luck on the Hunting Competition!" He managed to speak as the daunting aura of the lady seething with magical powers intimidated him.

Lady Carmen glanced at the knight before she flipped her hair and walked to the gates without responding to him.

These are the next type of participants in the Hunting Competition.

Compared to the first group which are the appointed leaders who are confident and the second group who are lone warriors, they are a mixture of both.

The Soloists.