10x Rewards: Conquering Women and Taming Beauties-Chapter 39: A Temple

Without hesitation, I acted on instinct.

Lightning flickered around me, and the next instant I was more than three meters away from my previous location.

The very next instant, the ground exploded outwards, sending gravel and dust flying into the surroundings.

I narrowed my eyes, glancing toward the direction the attack had come from. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"A miss?" Jason muttered with a frown.

In his grasp was a bow and arrow, and from his posture one could tell he was the one who had attacked.

A flash of killing intent appeared in my eyes as I stared at him.

If I hadn’t received the lightning movement technique from Lydia just moments ago, I’d probably have been badly injured or even lost my life in that attack.

Jason maintained an even gaze with me before shrugging nonchalantly and striding casually inside.

Clenching my fist tightly, I hesitated on whether to attack.

’For now, I need to get used to this place. After that... I will eliminate him.’ I decided internally.

Vale approached quickly, her face filled with worry.

"Are you alright, Aristarkh?"

"Yeah, I am," I muttered, dusting my clothes. Thankfully, I wasn’t injured in the attack.

Vale scanned me thoroughly, and after ensuring that I wasn’t injured in the slightest, she exhaled in relief.

Still, a thought tugged silently in her heart.

’A lightning technique? Even more secrets?’

Recalling that I hadn’t used the lightning technique previously, Vale couldn’t help wondering just how many ’secrets’ I was hiding.

However, she didn’t actively ask me, instead opting to gradually unravel them.

I was like a piece of treasure to her, something she wanted to strip layer by layer until I was completely bare.

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t give her that pleasure.

"Let’s continue on our way," I said, dragging Vale’s attention back to the present.

"Right." Vale nodded and gestured toward her two subordinates.

With that, on high alert, we stepped into the temple, if it could be called that at all.

I looked around and realized we had appeared in something akin to a temple. However, there was a training ground at the center.

The training ground was an elevated platform, and standing at its center was something akin to a soldier, clad completely in armor from head to toe and radiating an oppressive might.

Surrounding us were clusters of people.

It was a mix of humans and cursed creatures.

Tension filled the entire temple.

To the right, the cursed creatures of varying kinds were gathered, radiating an oppressive cursed aura.

Meanwhile, on the left, the humans were gathered, staring intently at the cursed creatures as though they would attack at any moment.

Then, there was us.

Three cursed creatures and a human.

The moment we entered, everyone’s eyes turned in our direction.

It was particularly strange to see a human with three cursed creatures, and as such, everyone’s attention couldn’t help but fall on us.

Vale glanced toward the cursed monsters, and her gaze landed on someone with a similar appearance to her.

Only, contrary to the teasing, calm expression that was usually on Vale’s face, the woman’s eyes were filled with coldness, ruthlessness, and anger.

Her hair was a shade of blood red, cascading down her shoulders.

The two sisters exchanged glances, staring at each other, and one could feel the killing intent in the air.

Suddenly, just as the tension was about to explode, the soldier clad completely in armor... moved.

Immediately, everyone’s pupils shrank as they glanced in her direction.

The soldier raised her sword, then took off the glove of her right hand, revealing pale, snow-white skin underneath.

After that, she tossed the glove toward the crowd. Particularly at their center.

"She tossed the glove again. Just like she has done for the past few days!" someone exclaimed, instantly putting everyone on high alert, their attention fixed on the glove with apprehension.

"I wonder who’s going to die this time," someone muttered in a low voice.

From the discussion of the crowd, I, Vale, and the others were able to gather bits and pieces of information to understand what was going on.

Every day there were three challenges. One in the morning, one in the evening, and one at night. It seemed anyone who managed to defeat the armored soldier would emerge victorious and receive the treasure.

However... that was the hard part, because it was a battle to the death.

In essence, everyone who had fought previously had been completely overwhelmed, eliminated without delay.

It was an extremely gruesome thing to think about.

Glancing at the glove on the ground, I felt a chill, finally understanding why everyone was panicking.

"Someone has to pick the glove, or it will automatically choose a person. Either that person dies, or they’re forced to fight to the death," another voice explained from the crowd.

Finally, I understood the reason for everyone’s hesitation.

I too couldn’t help but hesitate as my eyes landed on the glove.

Silence stretched between us as no one wanted to be the scapegoat.

However, inevitably, someone would have to die this afternoon.

"Go," suddenly, a burly man with dark blue fur on his shoulder growled, shoving the man beside him toward the glove.

The man staggered, almost losing his balance before coming to a stop.

His face turned pale as he stared at the glove.

Understanding that if he tried to return to the crowd of cursed monsters or run away he would be met with death, the cursed creature, who looked like a mixture of human and cat, trembled repeatedly.

"I... you..." he stammered, not knowing what to do.

"Pick it up!" the monster leader growled once more, urging him forward.

Finally, the man gritted his teeth, reached out his hand, and picked up the glove.

Instantly, the armored soldier turned her attention to him, her eyes filled with cold indifference.

A pale blue light appeared in her eyes as she stared in his direction.

Clenching his fist, the cursed monster knew he couldn’t delay any further.

Immediately, he jumped onto the stage, his agile physique propelling him straight to the center.

Wanting to take advantage of the fact that the armored soldier hadn’t yet taken a stance, the young man attacked at once, his hand shooting forward in a claw-like motion.

Bang!

A swift sword light appeared, and the next instant, the man’s claw was severed and shattered, blood spraying as it was sent flying midair.

The cursed monster’s expression changed drastically as a sharp whooshing sound echoed.

The next instant, a chill crawled up his spine.

"Noo—" he tried to scream, but it was cut short as a blade cleaved clean through his neck.

Collapsing to the ground, his body fell weakly. Meanwhile, his head, tossed into the air, dropped and rolled to a stop.

His dull, lifeless eyes stared in the direction of the cursed monster leader, whether out of grievance or coincidence, as if blaming him for his death.

After the armored soldier came to a stop, everyone finally let out a breath.

However, the weight in their hearts only deepened.

Due to the forcefield surrounding the area, no one could leave.

Which meant one thing.

They either found a way out... or they all died here.