Crash-landed On An Island With Nine Beauties
Chapter 76

[Ping! Trial mode task unlocked!]

"Trial mode task?"

Damien didn't have much time to think about the new notification as the system brought up another one.

[Ping! Task 1/3: Retrieve the real body of the host and take it to the watchtower before the expiration of today.]

Damien waited for a little while whether or not the system would tell him more about the new update but he waited in vain.

"What's this about? Trial mode task? I thought I wouldn't be able to do any tasks since --"

He realized that there wasn't much time left for him. He recalled that the system had said one out of three tasks.

"The fuck is happening, bruh!"

"I already have enough to worry about the changes in the girls. And now what?"

"I thought I would be able to have this period to myself in peace. But a task!"

"I don't even see any rewards anywhere. How crazy can this get?!"

Damien didn't need to be told that getting worried and bickering would get him nowhere. What would get him what he wanted was acting. And not just acting, but doing so at the appropriate time, else --

"I don't have the luxury of chances... I can't take chances at this period. Who knows what the penalty of deferring the tasks of trial mode would look like..."

"Not to be seen by anyone for eternity."

He pretended to sound like a robot. What he had just said hit him differently.

"No no way. That can't happen. I have to see Grandpa again."

He shook his head violently. When he'd had enough he stopped and took a deep breath.

"And I have to be rich too. Stinkingly rich. Show to the world that a loser can rise to the control of the world so easily... and in the blink of an eye."

"And I have to meet Claire again. In person."

"Jada... I have to show her what it is like to be dejected by everyone. Yes! She brought it upon herself."

His eyes grew deep, dark and wild. He looked around him. He was somewhere in the woods, at the foot of the baobab tree which held up the watchtower.

It was relieving to realize yesterday's night that he could climb a tree. Though he had a big trouble doing that, yet he was able to. He was able to pass the night in a small room he built on the watchtower. "Now let's get to work."

He started walking towards the direction of the Cannibal's village.

He had no idea how he was going to retrieve his body. He didn't even know why he had to do that. It was just a task that had been assigned by the annoying system.

All he could he do was dance to the tune. He missed the skill of zooming through the woods. His legs ached.

Really, he didn't know what he used to enjoy when he had all the skills at his disposal. But now, it seemed as though he didn't need anyone to explain what 'you don't know the value of what you possess until you lose it' means.

He got to the fallen fences. It was very easy for him to cross through. He walked through, trying to recall where his body was laid.

"This should be the way. I remember vividly."

He convinced himself. He was right, he arrived at the hut. There were two huge Cannibals standing at the way. There was no way Damien could fit into the little space between their bodies and the space between the door posts and them.

Suddenly, he recalled that Claire walked through him.

"Am I some sort of ghost or what?"

He chuckled wryly at himself. More like making fun of himself.

Though he already had a solution which he had executed in his mind, he was reluctant to carry it out in reality. He waited for a while for no reason.

"What if I can't walk through these bastards. After all they are not humans. They have this strange spiritual and scary connection. I can tell."

Why wouldn't he? After all he was their king.

"You know what, fuck this."

It was strange to him that he sounded like Claire. That wasn't an important reference. Not at that moment.

He ran through one of the Cannibals instead of walking.

"Whoo, that was exciting."

He giggled and ran through another one. He kept doing it, going out and in of the hut.

He halted suddenly, his eyes moving weirdly in his sockets. He was outside the hut.

"What if there's a limit to the number of times I could pass through these fools?"

He pushed a lump down his throat, slowly pursing his lips to let them free like he regretted the action.

He wanted to run through the elder of the two Cannibals but had a rethink.

"What if this is my last trial? If I run, I could be knocked out by a strange force and probably break few bones. I'll be in so much pain... the system won't heal me. I'm sure of that." He shrugged at the ugly thoughts.

"I'll walk through."

He decided then began to take gentle and slow steps towards the Cannibal. When he was close enough, he shut the doors of his eyes.

He took a deep breath. For all he knew, anything could happen.

He walked through the body of the Cannibal. It didn't seem like a door, it seemed like walking through a thick fog.

He felt a sudden current travel across his body.

"No... no... no..."

He was disappointed. What he expected to happen didn't. He was hale and hearty when his eyes flipped open. He looked down at himself.

He expected to see something terrible or probably a big mark seated in his face or chest but he was disappointed again.

"Perhaps I was thinking too much. I must be so bored that 'imagining things' has become a hobby."

He mocked him. Suddenly he heard,

"Lugal! Lugal!"

He looked up at once. One of the Cannibals who were kneeling around his other body pointed at him. The rest looked. Damien's eyes widened. He didn't know what to think. His lips moved involuntarily,

"Can he see me?"