Fantasy Realm [One Piece] [Harry Potter] [Naruto] - [Progression] [LitRPG]

Chapter 98: Skill x Luck - The Underground Carnival's Traps!

After Emma's bold question, every candidate watches Tsezguerra in silence.

With a hint of amusement, Tsezguerra announces, "Since there are no more questions, you're free to explore our private carnival! When the clock strikes 12:30, you can start playing any game you want. A last little hint for you... you're welcome to line up early! Now, calmly collect your silver coins. If I see even a hint of struggle, I'll disqualify the offenders immediately."

It takes just three minutes for the coins to be distributed in an orderly fashion, and then the candidates, moving awkwardly, begin to drift toward the carnival area.

You received Silver Coin x10

Alex inspects one of the coins, unsurprised that it isn't recognized by his system. Still, he receives a system notification shortly after.

[Main Quest Updated:
Mission: Pass the hunter exam
First Phase: 0/1 Second Phase: 0/1 Third Phase: 0/1 Fourth Phase: 0/1 Fifth Phase: 0/1
...]

Why does it stop at the fifth phase? Alex wonders, annoyed. Are there only five tasks this year? Usually, there are five or six... I guess the system doesn't plan to spoil anything for us.

He and Shalnark exchange a look, and Alex says, "We'd better hurry and check out which games we have a good shot at. If we wait too long, we'll end up stuck at the back of the line."

But Shalnark only grins, holding a phone with tiny devil wings attached, and says slyly, "Go ahead, Alex. I'll catch up later. It's more my style to observe for a bit and then decide. We've got plenty of time, so I'd recommend you take yours too. I get the feeling these games won't be as easy as they look."

Alex doesn't feel like playing it cool and has no desire to get close enough to Shalnark to risk getting an antenna stuck in him. Taking this as a chance to split up, he heads off to scout the games, though Shalnark's words do give him pause. Shalnark's probably right about not rushing in, but every minute counts. Scouting the games now, figuring out what's available... that's the smart play, he reasons. I can't be relaxed when my life's at stake—I'll give it my all from the start!

He takes a final look at his stats, deciding that they'll help him narrow down which games to attempt first.

Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 220/220, MP: 180/180
STR: 12 (+3), AGI: 12 (+3), PHY: 12 (+2), SNS: 12 (+2), CHA: 12 (+5), MNA: 12, INT: 12 SPR: 12 (+5), LUK: 12

Alex takes a careful look around the carnival. The atmosphere is tense, but strolling past the colorful stalls, listening to the cheerful music, and seeing all the candles, lights, and displays helps him relax a little. He even grabs a small bag of popcorn to steady his nerves. Snacks and drinks are set out freely for the examinees, no ordering required—just sitting on the counters, ready for anyone to take.

As he scans the games, he spots a variety of options: a toughened version of darts, with a throwing distance at least three times the usual, and the classic "Test Your Strength" game, where players strike a target with a heavy hammer to ring the bell at the top of a tower. Given his 14 points in STR, Alex takes a closer look. The games look rigged; even he can tell there are extra weights and modifications slapped onto the setup, making it obvious that only a fraction of each hammer's impact will actually reach the lever, making the game significantly harder. This "Test Your Strength" game offers multiple difficulty levels, each one requiring more strength to hit the bell. But when Alex sees the rewards, he frowns. What? Only 15 coins for the highest difficulty? You only get 10 silver coins, and 15 isn't even worth the risk. One failed attempt and you're practically done for. The lower levels are even worse, awarding just 10 and 5 coins. Only good for a few extra coins if you don't want to risk too much but are just short of 100, he thinks, recognizing the trap set for the candidates.