Morning came very fast, the mist filtering the sunlight into soft beams that barely touched the ground. The four nobles stirred, moving with quiet confidence. Their expressions were calm, their motions precise—a display of pride that made the forest itself seem small.
The boy with fiery hair stretched, igniting small flames along his arms. The swordsman checked his blade meticulously, realizing it has a dent he quickly changs to a tall bluish sword. The stretch-magic boy flexed unnaturally long limbs that snapped back into place trying to flaunt his abs , while the summoner girl's sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, spotting each of them disgusted by stretchy behavior as she like to call him.
"This place is rough," the stretch-magic boy said, chewing slowly. "But manageable."
"Only if you're prepared," the swordsman replied calmly.
The girl smirked. "Prepared? Most of these children don't even know where they are."
The flame-haired boy laughed quietly. "And yet they call this a trial."
After a healthy breakfast drawn from their storage pouches—warm bread, cooked meat, fruits preserved with mana—they started to pack . Trying not to waste time . Not a glance unaccounted for.was less than half an hour later when they heard voices.
Loud ones.
Orders.
Crude laughter.
The four slowed.
Ahead, in a small clearing trampled flat by careless boots, stood a boy with a round face and thick arms stuffed into expensive gear that did not suit his body. His armor was polished too brightly. His sword too decorative. His posture too forced.
Behind him stood five others—boys and girls roughly the same age, eyes wary, movements restrained. Hired help. Obedient.
"Spread out!" the chubby boy barked. "Don't just stand there like idiots. You—check that side. You—stay behind me."
He puffed his chest as he spoke.
Stretchy proudly said "well well if it isn't chubot." Get it chubby clot chubot "
"Oh?" the summoner girl murmured, tilting her head. "Issuing commands already?"
The chubby boy's pride faltered for a moment but recovered quickly. "You… don't belong here. Move!"
The flame-haired noble's lips curved into a faint smile. "And if we don't?"
Hmph you think you can beat me
" he snapped. "My father is a guild adventurer—Level D. My mother controls three merchant routes. My aunt teaches at the guild school."
He lifted his chin. "Know your place.
Chubby angrily cursed inwards and said you you don't think I won't beat you
The flame-haired noble said "really let's see about that "
A challenge was issued, subtle, almost playful—but enough to ignite the clearing.
The chubby boy's team attacked first. Fire, blades, and stretching limbs clashed as the four nobles retaliated. Coordination and timing made the fight swift and efficient. The hired group was outclassed, scrambling under the nobles' precision, even as the chubby boy barked, urging them forward.
Amidst the clash, the ground trembled. A massive scorpion, its armored body glinting with a faint blue sheen, emerged from underbrush and dirt. Its tail arched menacingly, venom dripping from the stinger, claws snapping, every movement deliberate and threatening.
The four nobles were suprised . The swordsman intercepted a claw swing, the flame-haired noble ignited the ground near the tail, and the summoner girl sent spectral creatures to distract it while the stretch-magic boy slammed his extended arm into the beast's side.
The chubby boy and his team, realizing the danger, hesitated for a heartbeat but joined cautiously, attacking where they could. Together, they coordinated strikes, attempting to pierce the scorpion's armored body.
The scorpion roared—its legs digging trenches into the forest floor. Even with all their combined efforts, the creature remained alive and dangerously aggressive. Blows that could stagger lesser monsters barely scratched its carapace.
"Retreat!" the swordsman barked after a series of failed attacks. "We can't bring it down yet!"
The group withdrew in unison, the four nobles leading with calm authority, the chubby boy and his team following, slightly shaken but still wary, realizing the nobles were skilled beyond expectation.
After gaining a safe distance, they regrouped.
Unknownily Leaving ren and his crew behind, with a angry monster,