Skill Hunter -Kill Monsters, Acquire Skills, Ascend to the Highest Rank!

"The team who scored highest was the team belonging to Rufus Estrade," the voice boomed.

Overhead, the names reorganized into teams. Rufus' name climbed to the top of the table.

"Alright, well, we don't have to be first, we just have to survive," Ike said.

Wisp nodded. "Yeah, yeah."

"All teams who received a disqualifying score will be removed from the challenge."

"Oooor not," Ike said. He looked at Wisp and shrugged.

Immediately, he could see the same thoughts he'd had flash behind her eyes. They didn't need to win, they just needed to beat the winners. She raised her brows and nodded, unperturbed.

The voice continued. "However, there were extraneous circumstances. One contestant understood the purpose of the trial better than anyone else, and displayed the true qualities of a king."

Ike raised his brows. "Oooor maybe yes?"

"A king should not leave those beneath him behind. A king's job is to be in tune with his subjects, and protect them from what they cannot overcome. In this way, only one contestant truly displayed the qualities of a king. Thus, in the place of the disqualification, the score of the contestant who chose to return for their teammate will be counted double, and their team will not be disqualified."

Ike's team shot to the top of the table, over Rufus' team and everyone else's. It beamed with golden light. Rufus stared at him, flabbergasted. Scar stared in open amazement, then gave a thumbs-up. Vi glanced his way, a dangerous light in her eyes.

Wisp twisted her lips. "Think of how high that score could have been if you'd gotten me and I'd rescued Mag, instead of you rescuing Mag."

"What, do you want double-first place? Our score's already the highest, how much higher do you want it to be?" Ike asked exasperatedly. "Also, you probably would have just made fun of him and left him in the darkness."

"No. I would have made fun of him and rescued him from the darkness," Wisp corrected him.

"I wonder if the voice in the sky would have appreciated that."

Wisp glanced up. "He seems like an ends justify the means kind of guy."

"Does he?"

"Yeah."

Ike snorted. "Sure. Hey, you know what?"

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"What?"

"We keep doing this slide-over-the-finish-line stuff. Winning by tricks and traps. The next trial? Let's crush it. Absolutely ruin it. Just take that trial on and destroy it."

Wisp nodded. "I like that plan. Let's do it."

"Do you even know what the next trial is?" Shawn asked.

Ike waved his hand dismissively. "Not important. Whatever it is, we're gonna smash it."

"Right. Why did I even ask?" Shawn wondered aloud.

"Indeed. Why bother? Wisp and I, we only need to apply ourselves to blow away whatever trial comes our way," Ike boasted, puffing his chest.

Shawn snorted. "Sure. Uh huh."

More seriously, Ike shrugged. "So far, the trials have been horse-riding and courage. What comes after horse-riding and a test of courage?"

"A big dinner and a nice long nap?" Shawn suggested.

Ike rolled his eyes. "Combat! So far, all the qualities have been associated with battle. Horses. Bravery. It only makes sense if the third trial is a combat trial."

"Yeah!" Wisp said, with the enthusiasm of someone who knew her friend was bullshitting this all in the moment, and wanted to see where he was going.

"Just like I deduced the true nature of this trial, naturally, I can also deduce the next trial. I don't think it'll be simple, but I believe in us. If we're allowed to work together—no, even if we aren't, we'll still be able to win. We have to believe in ourselves."

"That's right!" Wisp cheered him on.

The light faded out around them. Once more, their surroundings darkened. Ike looked up, preparing to be transported. To tell the truth, he had no idea what trial came next, nor was he in any way confident in predicting it. It made logical sense to him that combat would factor in somewhere around bravery and horsemanship, but who knew? He personally didn't rate horsemanship high on a king's required traits, so what did he know? It came as no surprise that he didn't understand the thinking of royals. He was only a slumrat, after all. But it would be nice if he was at least able to predict that much common sense from the strange beasts known as noblemen.

They didn't need to smash the next trial. Having taken first in the first two trials, they were already pretty well set for victory. But on the other hand, he wasn't going to rest on his laurels. Ike didn't know how many trials there were, so it was foolish to decide they had an overwhelming victory with two successes. If there were ten trials, his two early victories could prove meaningless, unless they could continue to secure wins. Still, if there were five, or even seven trials, then two victories was a sizable lead.

But either way, it didn't matter. He wanted to smash the next trial, so he would. It didn't matter what the nobility threw at them. Even if it was something ridiculous like flower-picking or scholarly recitations, he'd still put on his best face and try his best to smash the trial.

This was where speed paid off. He'd always put his all into speed, not strength. In a battle, either could prove crucial, but having often been on the losing end of the strength game, Ike knew very well how important strength was. Speed's strength came in its versatility. If two swords clashed, the stronger man won. But if he had to pick the best art piece off the wall or win in a game of cards, speed would win the day. Quickness for grabbing elite items and speed for cheating at cards; either way, strength meant nothing, but having the ability to burst forth meant the world.

Wisp, too, had a versatile set of skills. Between her wall-climbing, string-manipulation, and general strength, she could overcome a vast array of trials.

And, of course, if it comes to a fight, I have no fear at all. We'll be able to hold our own. No—I don't care if there's Rank 4s in this trial. We'll smash them all!

Light swirled down once more. Ike blinked and looked around him, curious about the next trial.

And then he froze. He swallowed. "Uh oh."

"We're fucked," Wisp agreed, more succinctly.

Shawn laughed aloud. "No matter what the trial is, we'll smash it, huh? Where's that confidence now?"