Cursed Immortality

'The Hunter's Necropolis? Like the city of the dead? These conditions are also quite straightforward, unlike the last time.' Jacob mused while looking at the revealed information about this epic trial plain called the Hunter's Necropolis. 

Furthermore, the trial mood was quite straightforward and wasn't hard to understand, and the conditions completely mirrored it quite well. 

However, it wasn't as simple since it wasn't told which specific beasts were titled the Beasts of Directions. This is where things get complicated since he needs to find it himself. 

'Since this is about killing five beasts, I can manage that while those guys would still be figuring out about the nature of this trial. This is my advantage, and I can't lose it to anyone.' Jacob's eyes shone with deep conviction. 

After learning about the truth behind the Unique Star Ocean Medallion, Jacob changed his plans to bid his time, and now he wanted to clear those conditions before anyone else. 

At this moment, the cursed book in front of him suddenly vanished. Jacob's vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself standing in the middle of thick snow. 

'I'm in!' Jacob looked around and found himself in the middle of a snowy mountain. The sky was gray, but the snow was falling without any clouds, which was quite strange. 

'What kind of place is this, and where did I end up in?' Jacob frowned as he clearly hadn't forgotten about what had happened the last time he entered the dark ruin; he ended up in the catacomb. 

But he was also lucky enough to end up closer to a trial condition. However, right now, he was in the middle of some unknown snowy mountain range, which was quite bad. 

Truthfully, when he saw the name Hunter's Necropolis, he was expecting a city of undead or tomb monuments, but there was no trace of any tomb or anything as a matter of fact. 

At this moment, he felt a vibration on his wrist from the star watch, 

"Faceless Ancient Welcome in the Hunter's Necropolis of Epic Plains. Please explore the Hunter's Necropolis for glory."

Jacob's eyes shone with a hint of surprise, 'So, SAAI is still active here. Or there's something else…' He wondered for a moment before he decided not to think about it, as these things were still beyond him. 

Furthermore, he didn't think Immortika was afraid of a mere A.I. in the trial plains but something that could threaten it or was strong enough to restrain it. That's why he no longer put the trial plains in the same class as the normal plains anymore. 

'First, I need to figure out where the hell I am, and then I should start my hunt for these beasts of directions.' Jacob mused before he decided to head toward the top of this snowy mountain to have a good view of his surroundings, and only then would he choose a direction to explore. 

The snow layer was quickly thick as half of Jacob's feet easily penetrated into the snow, and he left behind a deep and long trail of footsteps as he moved towards the top. As for the temperature, it wasn't enough to affect his new physique. 

After walking for half an hour, Jacob noticed something strange, 'This snow…' Jacob looked up again as the snow was still falling and frowned before he started moving forward again, unsure about something. 

A few more minutes passed as Jacob was almost on the mountain peak when suddenly, "Roarrrr…" An enraged roar reverberated like thunder in the silent vicinity of the snow mountain, and it came right from the top of the mountain where Jacob was. 

Alerted, Jacob increased his speed as that roar wasn't directed towards him, and as he reached the top, a massive azure shockwave hit him. Jacob's expression hardened as he felt about a kiloton force behind that passing shockwave, but he remained unmoved like a mountain. 

Gazing in the direction of the source, he saw a 7 feet tall gray-scaled Kobold in flashy golden armor, and he was retracting a golden halberd from the head of a large hairy creature resembling a human and bear as its own blood tainted its snowy fur. 

Although Jacob didn't identify the dead creature, he does know what killed it, 'It's a Wind Kobold, which means he's from the epic plains and might've just entered like me. That was fast. I thought they would waste time investigating the incident with the Epic Star void server. Well, I guess they know what's at stake here.' 

At this moment, the Wind Kobold seemed to sense Jacob's presence as well and instantly looked in his direction. He was astounded when he saw the athletic giant in a black windbreaker, his head hidden behind a wood and face covered with a faceless black mask, and only his emotionless amber eyes were revealed as they were affixed on him, which gave him chills or some reason, it was like he was looking at a predator. 

'He's very dangerous! I don't think I would encounter someone this powerful so soon, just my damn luck.' He cussed inwardly before he pointed his halberd at the giant and coldly questioned, "Who are you? You are not part of the vanguard unit! Is he your friend?" 

He probed while, in truth, he had no idea if this person was really someone from the vanguard unit since he was too arrogant to pay others any attention except for a few worthy people. But he knew that giant was too eye-catching not to arouse other attention, and if he was really part of the vanguard unit, he should have an identity badge. 

Because communication wasn't possible in a trial plain, it was almost impossible to confirm someone's identity without the Star network. So, the All Alive Alliance hands its members special identity badges. 

Furthermore, he doubted Jacob's identity from the start because this Wind Kobold was one of the leaders of the vanguard unit, one of the top ten S-Class Epic Mercenaries, the Wind Bringer Geko! 

He heard that every time a few daring independent experts snuck into the trial plains to fish in troubled waters. The alliance members were allowed to kill such a person on the spot, only if they could though. 

Furthermore, the perimeter to prevent such a thing from happening had been disrupted by the sudden attack on the star network, so it wasn't difficult for some opportunists to snuck in there. 

Geko wasn't an idiot, so instead of fighting Jacob, he wanted to recruit him as a pawn until he found his people. This way, it would be safer for him to get rid of Jacob. 

Jacob, on the other hand, has even more extreme plans than Geko, as he replies, "How about you introduce yourself first?"