Bawl, Alexander, and Eonni exit the yacht, finally free from the nightmare of a ship.

  “Urrg! Finally free.”

  Alexander stretches, taking in the breeze and the surroundings. Bawl is also stretching in silence.

  Eonni doesn’t feel the need to stretch since she already did.

  They all walk along with the crowd, going through the path in the forest.

  One thing that is noticeable is that the monarch is now outside of its cage, walking along with them.

  He had tamed it this morning. At least that’s how it seemed, it had just given up and submitted to him despite yesterday, it was quite rebellious.

  Eonni is still working on her skill, and it is nearly done, having gained new inspiration from the fight on the ship.

  They reach a giant tunnel that seemingly extends to no end. The light is not even visible.

  Everyone stops the person leading them stops in front of the entrance.

  “Wonder what’s going to happen?”

  Eonni was worried, she figured this was going to be a new test, especially since they didn’t tell them the first test started so she’s hoping they at least do so this time.

  “This is probably another test to see if I’m worthy to save the world. Wonder who I’ll have to fight?”

  Alexander couldn’t wait. He wanted to fight again after the last ones, which felt so anti-climactic, he expected more out of such a serious fight.

  “I want cookies.”

  Bawl just wanted black and white cookies.

  “Alright everyone, pay attention! The next test will start!”

  “Oh, thank god.”

  Eonni was relieved they were told. She would have been so angry if they didn’t say.

  “The next test is straightforward! Run to the end of the tunnel!”

  Everyone was silent, skeptical that there was maybe a hidden trap inside the tunnel.

  “Excuse me, I have a question.”

  Bozer had his hand raised, his neck injury healed and appearing just fine. His allies were with him, however, presumably dead or just not around.

  “Are you actually being truthful? There’s obviously a twist here.”

  “...Whatever do you mean? Just run to the end. I’ll be waiting. You can start whenever you want, but once you start, you cannot stop.”

  The woman disappeared, leaving everyone with a suspiciously simple goal.

  “I highly doubt that’s all we have to do. There are probably some traps inside. She also mentioned something like once you start, you can’t stop.”

  Alexander was breaking down the current situation. He may be delusional, but he certainly doesn’t throw all logic out the window.

  “We should go to the giant hotel over there and relax for now before entering.”

  Eonni said.

  “Can I go then?”

  Bawl completely ignored what Alexander said.

  “-no.”

  “Hmph.”

  He turned his head, upset at being denied.

  The day goes by rather quickly, with all the applicants entering the hotel as well as the trio.

  All three of them are sleeping in the same room, in the same bed, Bawl being sandwiched between Alexander and Eonni.

  He heard a sound in the night. He looked outside to see many applicants having woken up so early, running into the tunnel.

  “Lucky.”

  He was jealous, he wanted to join in. While he couldn’t see everyone's face, he could see their souls.

  They were in many different shapes and had many different properties.

  He thought that maybe this test would be a challenge for him.

  He had never struggled after getting so strong, he always defeated everyone in one strike, or they could never damage him. It was very boring for him, no challenge.

  He would always limit his strength so that not only could he not win immediately but also satisfy his way of thinking.

  Thinking back to all the fights he had in the woods, he always thought it was unfair to the animals that they didn’t get a chance to fight for their survival so he would always limit himself so they could have a chance of survival.

  His idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to survive, he was grateful for these wristbands he had. They allow him to go all out without truly going all out.

  It’s the next day and everyone is gone. They look around, but it’s as if no life had been presented to begin with.

  “Did everyone leave already? Did they learn nothing from the last test?”

  Alexander didn’t understand why they would rush into the test.

  He was now more cautious than ever, he needed to become the savior of the universe, and rushing in recklessly would only hinder that delusion.

  “We should try entering now. They said that we shouldn't stop moving once we enter. So, I guess something might chase us and kill us if it catches us.”

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  Eonni said.

  “Makes sense.”

  Bawl was standing in between the two, watching them think. He didn’t want to wait, he wanted to go in. He understood that they weren’t as durable as him, he knew something would probably chase them, having heard what the woman said.

  He just didn’t care.

  “Alright, before we go, does anyone have to use the bathroom and eat? I already ate and used the bathroom recently.”

  “I did too, so I’m good. Bawl, what about you?”

  They turned and didn’t see Bawl who was just with them.

  Hearing a liquid sound, they both saw Bawl peeing in a bush.

  “-I mean there’s nothing wrong with that, even if he could have just gone inside the motel.”

  “Hmm. I wonder what color it is?”

  She thought out loud. Alexander turned his head, bewildered by what she just said. Yes, she was a little weird with that brother-sister stuff, but come on, wondering what color his piss is,m that’s just another level of weird.

  “What? A good sister would want to know if her baby brother was healthy.”

  “...”

  Alexander was not buying that, he was just going to ensure she was weird and move on.

  Bawl finished his release and joined them.

  “Ready.”

  Now all of them were standing in front of the giant tunnel. It really did seem endless, just a pitch-black void. Bawl had his pet shark in his hand, ready to carry it the entire way.

  They began to walk in, attempting to take it slow. Alexander and Eonni didn’t know what would chase them, they wanted to conserve their energy for if the time arrived for them to run.

  It didn’t matter for Bawl however, he went along with it, he wanted to run, and he had lots of stamina, but he didn’t want to leave them, they were the only people he was close with, and he would rather not lose that so soon, despite the little time they have been together.

  Nothing has happened so far. They look around every corner of the area, it's very dark but somehow there is still some visibility of the area, possibly due to a skill.

  “Kind of weird I can still see despite it being pitch black from the outside.”

  Eonni said.

  “Probably a skill or something.”

  Bawl hears something behind but doesn’t turn around, he taps Alexander's shoulder instead.

  “Hmm?”

  “Something behind.”

  Hearing that, Alexander and Eonni fell into a cold sweat. They turn around, still walking but don’t see anything.

  “Lots of things.”

  Bawl said, very ominous.

  “What.”

  Alexander was now more scared than ever, he made sure not to lose his pace, fearing the unseen horror.

  “Should we run now?”

  Eonni asked, now afraid.

  “Wait! I’ll use my blade’s light.”

  He activates his sword, which illuminates the area, he slows his walking so he can get behind them. It reveals a small white rabbit.

  “-a what rabbit? Thank goddess, I thought it would be something terrifying.”

  “-run.”

  Alexander and Eonni were caught off guard by what Bawl said.

  “It comes in family.”

  “Comes in family?”

  Alexander pondered what this meant, he turned back around to see thousands of rabbits now.

  Staring them all down while following them.

  “The hell!”

  Bawl grabs Alexander and Eonni and starts running.

  The sword is dropped as a result and disappears.

  “What’s wrong!”

  Eonni asked, concerned by what Bawl was doing.

  “It will eat you alive.”

  “Ea-”

  Loud hollow screams are heard from behind, thousands of little footsteps echoing across the tunnel.

  The monarch was fearing for its life. It seemed to be afraid of these things despite being such a powerful creature.

  Alexander uses his sword again to illuminate the space. He is shocked seeing the rabbit faces now lifeless, their eyes gone, their mouths wide and empty.

  He illuminates the front of them so Bawl can see much clearer.

  Bawl steps on something, almost falling over. Alexander moves his sword to the ground to reveal them passing by bones.

  Now scared with a realization. This is what they meant when telling them not to stop, these rabbits would eat them alive if they did.

  Of course, It was another punishment by death. Why wouldn’t it be?

  What were they testing here! Were they trying to test our endurance or if it was to never take anything at face value.

  The first test honestly felt bland on purpose. What were they testing then, that danger doesn’t wait or some bull crap like that.

  Were they toying with the savior of all, the hope of the universe? Such dumb dumbs.

  All this was rushing through his mind, he thought this test was definitely more reasonable than the last.

  The rabbits tried jumping at them, but Bawl would just run faster if they attempted to touch him, and the monarch would blast water at it.

  He had lots of experience with these things. Long ago when he was 7, some of these rabbits tried to eat him alive, this was when he was already quite strong, having gotten quite strong without his workout list.

  He struggled to kill them all since they were able to move incredibly fast.

  He survived but with a few injuries. This would bring inspiration to his second style ever made.

  He turned the bolt to 5 percent, which allowed him to use his second style, QuickStar.

  He had disappeared instantaneously; dust had filled the entire tunnel, and everyone was immediately at the end of the tunnel.

  “W-what happened!”

  Eonni looked around, seeing the sun pierce her eyes.

  Alexander looked around to see a bunch of other applicants resting at the end, but it seemed this wasn't the end.

  Bawl dropped them all and, in a flash, got them water and food which was in fact waiting at the end.

  “How did you-”

  “It was at the end.”

  “b-BRING US THERE THEN!”

  Eonni yelled, dizzy from moving at such a quick speed.

  Eonni blinked and she was right at the end with everyone else.

  Bawl was declared the winner, Eonni in second and Alexander in third.

  “Great job. You’re the first to cross the finish line, and at such speed too.”

  Alexander was carrying the monarch, trying to pick himself up, dizzy just like Eonni.

  The monarch was out cold, having a much smaller brain, it couldn’t keep conscious.

  “Do I get something?”

  Everyone turned around to see Kid Death having used his Air Shoes to escape the tunnel without loss of stamina and declared in fourth place.

  “What. Damn it, I shouldn't have wasted time.”

  “You can request 1 thing, and we’ll see if we can provide it for you.

  Bawl thought to himself, wondering what he could do. He thinks about first putting the monarch to the side but doesn’t want that.

  He quickly figures out exactly what he wants.

  “Black and White Cookies!”

  Everyone was bewildered by the request.

  “You should, really reconsider.”

  “No. Cookies. Now.”

  “...”

  She didn’t know what to say. But that is what the applicant requests, they cannot go against their wishes.

  “Very well. We will bake you some cookies.

  Bawl was very happy.

  Alexander sat on the ground. Still confused by what just happened.

  Bawl’s skin was darkened, his clothes and his hair were up, and his pupils had stars.

  He had never seen this before but noticed Eonni wasn't that surprised.

  “Eonni. You don’t seem that surprised.”

  “I’m not. He actually used that weird transformation before we started the test. He used it to defeat the monarch.”

  “The Monarch! Like the monster that was terrorizing and vaporizing cities.

  ” Yeah that one.”

  “Wow. He’s a lot more impressive than I thought.”

  Having learned such valuable information. He now understands Bawl is a lot more formidable than he seems, and such a feat of speed only adds to that impressiveness.