Chapter XVI

There are two hours left before the end of the Hunter’s Game and I can hardly see how many points I’m already getting. I’m getting depressed every time I look at it.


I choose to spend my remaining hours here under the tree. I had been disturbed by various creatures for the past few hours. I think it's only a minute apart and I am again facing new creature.


Just like now, before I closed my eyes I felt another presence from the tainted creatures. I thought I would be able to rest peacefully until the time ran out but I guess I wouldn’t be able to do that. They won’t let me just stay here peacefully.


“Ssss…” I was alarmed when I heard a strange sound coming somewhere.


“I could smell a sweet scent from her. Sss…”


"Sss… she looks delicious." I decided to open my eyes just to see three huge half-human and half-snake creatures.


They were all women and were not wearing tops but their nakedness was covered by their long hair. Their eyes are also red like the previous creatures I have fought. On the abdomen, above the navel they are marked as an SS+ rank creatures.


Where did the portal take me and I kept on encountering the highest ranks? I still haven’t seen even one of my classmates. There seems to be no end to this place.


“Oh, she is pretty too. We can get her face after we eat her.”


Really? That’s the first thing they want, to eat me? Geez!


“Hi… what do they need?” I asked politely, just in case they don't think about eating me anymore.


"We want your face," said the one who’s in the middle and was wearing a small crown on her head.


“Don't you have faces?” My forehead furrowed as I looked at them.


Why do they want to take mine, when they have their own faces? They just want to complicate their lives.


"Are you kidding us, kid?" The woman on the right was about to approach me holding a spear, when she was stopped by the woman in the middle.


"Stop, Serena!"


"That girl is making fun with us, Mariposa!" Serena replied while giving me a deadly look.


If looks could kill, I would have been lifeless.


"I'm not a child anymore," I pouted.


I have heard this one for a countless of time today. They are just big compared to me.


“I am getting pissed now! We should have eaten her instantly! She is too loud!” The other one on the left side hissed at me. She's holding a golden bow and arrow.


“Are you blaming me now, Luviana?!”


I took the chance to leave while they are arguing. I was about to turn around when the female snake hit me with her tail so I fell on the ground.


“Stop fighting! Can’t you see, our captive almost escaped!” The woman named Mariposa angrily spatted at them, and because of that, I gained their attention once again.


Great. Just great!


“Let me go. I will not hurt you…” I pleadingly looked at them.


I couldn’t keep up on my conscience anymore. Many lost their lives in my hands, but I gave them chances though.


I heaved a sigh, as I readied myself for their next move. One wrong move, and they will disappear as well.


“The Hunter’s Game will soon be over. Please let me stay here. I promise, I won't make any noise.”


I can’t be able to teleport. It didn’t work at all. There seems to be a force preventing me from doing that.


“And who are you for us to follow? You are just a low-life creature who deserves to die!” Luviana said, giving me dagger looks.


"The Moon Goddess made a wrong decision for creating a weak and coward creature like you!" Mariposa added and after that she released black poison. I could clearly see it stirring quickly in the air.


"Purify."


I quickly cast a spell in my mind to clear the air so it would not spread further. Mamita says, that the poisons that come from half-snakes like them are more dangerous and more deadly than wolf and vampire bites.


They foolishly smiled at me, but it gone too soon and got replaced by astonishment.


"Why isn't anything happening to her?" Mariposa confusedly looked at me. "She shouldn't be able to move at these times."


"I think you're rusting, sister," Serena said before laughing. "Your poison no longer resonates with creatures like her."


"Just shut up and kill her!" I feel like her patience is running out as well. If I did not immediately release that poison, many students would be affected, especially if it continued to blow into the air. And I will never let that happen.


The woman named Serena moved first, quickly throwing the spear she was holding at me. This was followed by flying arrows from Luviana. I didn’t move from where I was standing.


The weapons were only inches away from me when it stopped right in front of me. I caught my breath less than a second as it changed direction again and now focused on them. I saw how their eyes widened when it changed targets.


They were still unresponsive when I released the weapons and quickly plunged into them. I intentionally hung it in the air just an inch away from them, and after that I also dispersed it immediately.


"W-what the hell?" they said in unison. I could sense relief from them. I could also clearly see them sighing at the same time.


“I don’t really want to hurt all of you. I just want to stay peacefully and wait for the game to end.” There was a hint of desperation in my voice but they didn’t listen to me, instead their gazes darkened and they quickly crawled to my place.


They had words I didn’t understand and I didn’t even plan to know more. They gathered around me and when they stopped, small snakes spread at my feet and I was sure they were venomous. But before they could touch me, they immediately turned into ashes and disappeared into thin air.


I turned my gaze to the three half -snakes and smiled tiredly at them.


I bring no harm, just don't hurt me.


"Forgive me." I mouthed and watched them get burned by dark flames that came from nowhere.


I could clearly see how their eyes widened when black flames enveloped them. They could no longer cry because it swallowed them whole and immediately turned to ashes. No one can survive it, no matter how big creature you are.


Silence immediately enveloped the entire area. I sat on the ground exhaustedly and I just felt the tears falling from my eyes. My heart hurts while staring at the place of the incident. I don't want to hurt them but they always leave me no choice but to perish them.


The device rang again, signaling that my score had increased but I chose to be deaf so as not to hear that again. Three more creatures have disappeared because of me, and hopefully this is the end. My heart can't take it anymore. I feel so bad.


Maybe that's why Mamita doesn't want to let me go. I would only bring danger to the creatures that I will meet.


My eyes ached as I remembered the faces of the creatures I had killed. Even though I did not see the remorse until they were gone, I still could not get rid of their horrifying death.


I promised myself that I will always be good to anyone, but because of what happened today I don't know if I can still be called good.


I no longer noticed the time and quietly thanked when I saw the device flashes on my arm, bringing back us again at the arena.


"Amaris! Amaris!" That's Mathilda.


Her voice dominates the sea of creatures that are here inside the arena. We are all gathered here once again.


I looked around. There are too many students here and I can’t see her.


The crowd was in a commotion and almost all of them were full of scars on the body and half of the clothes were broken. Others were already sitting on the floor and barely lying there. Trace in each one was the hardship they suffered. But the most dominant thing on their faces was satisfaction. They look happy even when obviously tired.


"Thank you and you're okay, Amaris!" I smiled when I saw Mathilda rushing towards me.


“I am worried about you. It's good that you are not wounded!” She gripped both my arms as she examined my whole body.


“Don’t worry, Mathilda. I am perfectly fine.” My smile faded away when I saw her bleeding arm. I didn’t notice it earlier.


Oh my gosh!


“How are you? Are you okay? Let's treat your wound. You seem you have lost lot of blood.” I am worriedly sick while looking at her wounded arm.


Her right arm was wrapped in a torn cloth from her clothes. The blood already dried up. I also sighed when I saw the bruise on her cheek that had been covered with hair.


“This won’t kill me. Stop worrying!” She laughed trying to make me calm.


“I will always care for you, Mathilda. I'm here now so you can get used to someone worrying about you.” I hugged her that made her stunned. “Stop being hard-headed, let’s treat that later, hmm?”


She nodded at me.


"Good." I smiled and caressed her cheeks.


“May I have your attention, Laurent students?” The headmaster suddenly interrupted the commotion inside. It immediately caught the attention of everyone, who had recently had their respective conversations.


"Kindly, go to your designated area first." The students quickly followed what he said.


“Let's go to our classmates. They have been there before and you are the only one still missing so I have been looking for you.” Mathilda grabbed me and gently pulled me to where the others were.


“Hi, Amaris. I'm glad you’re okay!” Olivia said when we approached their place.


“Our muse seems lucky today!” Angelie said. She's that petite girl who approached me on my first day at university, and she's a wolf.


"Some S rank creature crossed my way so I got an injured arm.” She laughed as she looked down at her scarred arm.


"Let's heal your wounds later," I said to all of them when I saw that they all had wounds. I think I was the only one who’s lucky to didn't get any wounds.


"Our Amaris is really sweet!" Mathilda said with a smile and they all agreed.


“Is everything all right?" Our attention got caught by the speaker.



The Headmaster was standing in the middle and holding a microphone. The Elites are here too. They are all in the center platform.


“I just want to congratulate all of you! You did well, my dear students. I am so proud of each and every one of you," he said and even pretended to wipe fake tears from his eyes that made us laugh.


"Who do you think will be the Best Hunter?" Because of what he said, the whole arena got in chaos once again.


They are all excited from the result, while here I am, feeling nervous for I don’t know whatever the reason is.