The camp was bustling with activity.
Some soldiers were sparring among themselves while others gathered before a lady who was cooking before a large, open fire.
His sudden appearance caused the camp to freeze for a moment, all eyes falling on him.
Len stared back, his gaze scanning through the lot.
'Most of them are just like me... Aspirants.' He muttered, staring at the glowing little token crystals embedded on the chest of their armour.
From the different colours of the crystals, he was able to tell it was a mix of individuals from different regions of the Towers.
"Those with white tokens are from Valeria... the Everhart's region." He mumbled.
Whispers soon began to spread mainly from the aspirants.
Len had noticed his token was also embedded in the chest region of his armour a few hours back. Within its shining white surface was the emblem of ten wings wrapped in golden chains. Something only heirs and children from high-ranking family members of the Everhart were entitled to.
"Hey... didn't know the Everhart family had a red-haired heir."
Some were excited enough to voice their thoughts openly.
"Hold on... isn't that the devil child?" Another said with shock.
"Red hair, the emblem of the Everhart. It has to be him!"
"Yeah... I heard he was taken under them after the incident within his family."
"This... we're truly fortunate! Hahaha!"
Len remained in place, watching the bubbling excitement with a frown.
Something felt wrong. Why were they excited by his presence?
He did notice he had been roughed up from the fight with that creature and his armour badly damaged. Yet, he didn't bother to take it off leaving it in place as a form of protection.
'It has nothing to do with my appearance.' He thought, shaking his head.
Just then, three individuals unable to control themselves any longer, finally walked towards Len's direction with bright smiles.
A strange glint flickered in Len's eyes for a second, seeing them heading closer, but he made no move.
Just when they were close, the brown-haired guy with the frame of a bear at the center spoke.
"Hey! You're an aspirant just like us, right?"
Len didn't reply since the answer was obviously staring at them.
"Stop fooling around Brian." Another muttered with a chuckle. They finally came to a stop mere metres away from Len.
"By any chance, are you Len Ashborn... the devil child?" Brian went straight to the point, eyes shining brightly as he stared at Len as if he were some kind of rare treasure to be claimed.
"What if I said yes?" Len finally spoke, staring back at Brian without a flinch.
"Too bad then..." The guy stretched out his hands, and soon, a soft glow in the shape of a sword began to form.
Naturally, Len could tell he was about to summon a weapon. The two guys beside him didn't waste time either, summoning their weapons.
Len had a lost gaze on his face for a split second before finally staring down at the trio with a smile.
"Too bad, huh?"
Before the others could realise, Len was already before them, his crimson dagger glittering under the setting sun as it flashed upward.
SPLATTT!
The one named Brian felt the world tilt at an impossible angle before the cold realisation of his death finally crept into his mind.
"How?"
That was his last thought as his head fell to the ground, bouncing a couple of times before coming to a stop.
The others, successfully summoning their weapons, were shocked.
"You!"
"Damn brat!"
The one at the left swung his axe with a yell, but Len was faster. He twisted his body, easily evading the strike and then retaliated with a thrust at his chest.
"Urghhhh," the guy stumbled backwards, holding his chest in pain.
Len didn't pay him much attention as the third guy was already executing his attack behind him.
CLANG!
Swinging his dagger in a wide arc, Len was able to block the attack, bright sparks erupting from the clash of both blades.
Len leapt backwards and, in a flash, lunged forward, catching his opponents off guard.
His blade pierced through the guy's throat, bursting through from the other side.
Adjusting his grip, he easily swung the blade forward, splitting his neck through his head into clean halves.
With an expressionless face, Len turned to the second guy only to see he was already dead.
"I guess the paralysis skill finished the job."
He thought, staring at the three bodies.
"Hope this won't cause quite the trouble." He muttered. Though they tried to kill him. All he had done was defend himself. But who would believe him?
After all everyone saw he was the first to attack. Even though they were aware of what the others were about to do, will they take his side?
He clenched his daggers tightly, a subtle frown forming across his face. 'I can't take them all. Not without knowing the traits of the others.'
He finally raised his head only to realise something strange.
The whole area had grown silent with similar thoughts playing in the head of all present.
"How?"
Brian and his group had managed to kill some creatures and increase their soul force.
"Yet... they were dead. Worse... the fight didn't even last a minute."
"No... no way in hell did he just slaughter three of them like some chicken!"
Len paid no heed to their hushed whispers and disbelief as he had his eyes fixed on the translucent panel.
[You've slain three Unranked humans...]
[You've gained half of your slain opponents' soul force...]
[Your soul force has increased...]
[You've acquired half of your opponents Relics...]
He exhaled softly as he felt a warm energy seep into his body.
He could feel a new relic had been added to his soul space.
'I hope that was enough of a warning to those who had similar thoughts,' Len thought, still clenching his dagger.
Indeed, his ruthless display had given most who had similar thoughts of attacking him cold feet.
Just then, a large guy came out from one of the large tents at the far side of the field.
"What the hell's going on here?"
His voice was deep and easily travelled through the area.
His eyes landed on Len and the bodies on the floor.
"Did you do all these?" The man asked Len with a narrowed gaze.
Len clenched his daggers tightly as the man slowly headed towards him.
Though the man was just a human created by the trial.... an NPC, Len could feel the aura emitting from him.
[Analyse activated]
Name: [Orson]
Race: [Human]
Innate Trait: [Super strength]
Rank: [E-]
Len stared at the panel in surprise before going through the details.
"Thought as much. The thing is that...
Will I be able to defeat an E-rank?"