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That's about it, thank you for reading. 15K words
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Philip opened his eyes in a slightly different place. This time, rather than a pure white world with smooth stony ground, the skies were blue, and the ground was fresh green… He seemed to be on a sort of endless plain with clean, grassy winds…
[The Challenger has been confirmed]
"Huff… I'm here again. Like before, I feel as if someone rearranged my insides… Maybe I shouldn't have eaten so much fish…"
[The first step has been taken. As per the ancient pact, the path to the divine is made]
[You have surpassed the limits of your birth and crawled further than most. But that is but the starting line]
[Stand ready to face the challenges those before you failed to climb past]
[It has been proclaimed: four gates descend before you…]
"Uhum, let's skip that. I don't need another introduction. I choose The Trial of Combat."
/CLANG!/
The third gate from left to right opened before him like before. Gigantic ethereal palms surged from within, ripping the world in which he stood apart, toppling mountains and drying rivers…
Before he could fall onto the surging waves, one palm fell before him, engulfing him in darkness… When the lights returned; it resumed its previous state, but this time, the doors weren't there.
A new System notification appeared before him, but this time, it shone in bright blue light, melting like ice turning into water…
[The Challenger wishes to once again prove their might. But do they truly understand what awaits them? Or is it all overconfidence?]
The heavy voice of the Complex echoed inside his mind…
[Reach for the realm beyond mankind…]
[Civilian]
[Soldier]
[Champion]
[Heroic]
[Extreme]
Five paths opened up before him.
"Should I go in order again? Or is that a waste of time? There is the point about my ability working best under slight bursts of power, but wouldn't it be better to get a lot of shards and do it all in a controlled environment?"
"It's not like I need strength… I got plenty of that already. I just need time to think."
/Howling…/
"This is…?"
Taken away from his thoughts, Philip heard the howling of a thousand wolves but found none on the plains surrounding him… A strange scene followed… Yes, he remembered it all.
As the world around him seemed to freeze, a notification rang from the bellowing heavens above:
[The Trials have been temporarily halted; proceed with caution]
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[Caninarus Wolfern - Lord of the Glacial Mountains - welcomes you from your retreat. Your improvements have gone unnoticed, albeit…]
/CRACK!/
/CLANG!/
The echoing of a thousand blades clashing rang through the plains, staining the pure green leaves red and the pale-blue sky crimson. From above, a tear akin to a skin wound opened in the clouds, dripping red light onto the ground beneath.
Philip looked at his palms, and for a moment, he had the illusion blood was pooling amidst his fingers. The tang of heavy iron was strong in the air as he felt his entire body twitch…
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[Falpurgiana Mulplex - Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields - calls out to the stray mutt in her turf]
/BOOOM!/
The skies shook as the two powers in the sky clashed. Sending powerful ripples across the sea of grass.
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains retorts. There was never any indication of the Challenger belonging to another]
/BOOOM!/
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields tells the mutt to leave graciously before it is forced to do it with its tail between its legs!]
/BOOOM!/
"…"
'When the elephants battle, it's the grass that cries…'
The pressure falling from the skies above pressed the grass around him flat. If not for his recent increase in strength, Philip might've struggled to remain standing.
/Laughther…/
"This situation haha… Huh? Haa… W-What is…?… Hehe… hahaha…?!?! HAHA!!"
Suddently, Philip went on a laughing spree as he couldn't control his mouth and lungs anymore. He clutched to his neck as his eyes reddened. Something abnormal seemed to have taken ahold of his body!
The skies seemed to twirl around themselves, the clouds, sun, and colors in the world vortexing into the twisted imagery of smiling faces and unknown words…
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[??? - The Contested Greatest Jokester - is attracted by the unusual activity in the region]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields is annoyed by the unwelcome arrival of the boring clown]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains does not remember calling for a court jester to perform in his domain]
/HAHAHAHAHAHA!/
A twisted, raspy laugh rang in the world, causing Philip's lips to rise into an equally twisted smile as he tried to stop his body from doing the same
[The Contested Greatest Jokester laughs. Saying there's no harm in one more to a party]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields says there's no such thing, and it's best for the clown to leave while it's still in a good mood, and for the clown to drag the dog with it while it does so]
/BOOOM!/
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains says the same. It's best for the outsider without influence to leave while it's still acting nicely, and for the clown to drag the ignorant child with it as well on the way out]
/BOOOM!/
/HAHAHAHA!/
[The Contested Greatest Jokester laughs even more]
/MOOOOOOOOO!!/
"Oh no, not another…"
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[Bormun Taroursas - Bearer of the Golden Fields - is bothered by the commotion in the area under its supervision]
Suddenly, bright golden light falling from a luminous spot in the cosmos dispersed everything in the skies above him. The light crashed onto everything surrounding it, casting everything in the world gold.
The green fields came back to life, slightly golden like the best-cared-for wheat fields.
[Bearer of the Golden Fields tells those taking part in the ascension trials not to cause unneeded trouble, else there will be consequences to all involved]
/Silence…/
"Looks like a big dog appeared… thank God, for I was almost out of breath from laughing." He said out loud as he reached for his neck
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains understands your predicament and does not blame you for another's inconsiderate actions and transgressions]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields holds its halberd and asks if the mutt wants to fight and solve things the old-fashioned way]
[The Contested Greatest Jokester agrees that it's the best solution and suggests a proper location]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields says they can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't affect the Challenger. And whatever their decision ends up being, for them to hurry and not delay the due process any longer]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains shows interest in your inner potential and wants to continue from where the two of you left off by testing your current abilities]
[Multiple prepositions are made]
[From this point onwards, until the end of the stage, rewards will only be granted at the end of every Rank. But in turn, the total amount will double]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
[The starting Rank of your trials is locked at Heroic]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
[The next series of trials will be compressed into a single confrontation. The difficulty has been set to Heroic Second-Stage 7-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
"That's…"
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields tells you to not even consider the dirty mutt's trashy offers]
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation. The difficulty has been set to Extreme Second-Stage 6-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
"Six stars?… I thought… no… I know what this means."
'It's the Mythical realm. If I can defeat this, then I should have no problem crossing the threshold… She's likely testing me.'
'Alright, I'll…'
/Hahaha…/
[The Contested Greatest Jokester thinks the party is too cold and that it knows how to heat things up!]
The world before him twisted, and from the inside of his own mouth, a peerless white scroll made its way before him and unfurled.
Philip gagged in surprise and wariness, taking a step back in mild shock.
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage 3-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
"Oh shit…"
/Tremble…/
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields points its weapon at the miserable and unfunny clown for daring to overstep into its territory!]
[The Contested Greatest Jokester thinks that's a step too far and is emotionally appalled…
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. Rewards will be enhanced for the extra challenge. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage 4-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
/Haha!…/
[The Contested Greatest Jokester thinks the party is only starting to heat up!]
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. Rewards will be enhanced for the extra challenge. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage 5-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
"Guys… this might be…"
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields is enraged!]
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. Rewards will be enhanced for the extra challenge. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage 6-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
"…"
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains thinks that…]
/Hahahaha!/
[The Contested Greatest Jokester finds your spirit lacking!]
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. Rewards will be enhanced for the extra challenge. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage 7-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
/BOOOOM!/
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields makes it clear this is her territory and that none belong here!]
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. Rewards will be enhanced for the extra challenge. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage Full-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
/Shake…/
[Bearer of the Golden Fields says that such competition does not equate to the well-being of the Challenger and proclaims that if such behaviour is to continue, both entities will be kicked out of the Second-Stage and a complaint will be filled to higher management]
/Shine…/
Golden light shone upon him, displaying a uniquely shaped golden scroll as it unfurled before him…
[Bearer of the Golden Fields reminds the Challenger that there is no need to undergo such a heavy and irregular trial birthed from the illogical confrontations of two mentally unstable entities]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields is curious at the level of confidence your patron given you and has decided to test you under the same premise]
[A preposition is made]
[The whole Second Stage will be compressed into a single confrontation, and the right to challenge the realm of Myths will be provided. Rewards will be enhanced for the extra challenge. The difficulty has been set to Journey's End Second Stage 3-Star]
[Will you partake in the covenant?]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields says that too much time has been wasted in meaningless squabbles and says that a timer will be applied to the Second Stage henceforth]
[10:00]
"…"
Philip pondered in silence as he processed it all inside his head, 'This time, the situation is a bit different.'
'In the first stage, my actions attracted the manager of the first stage, and now the squabble between the goddess and him has caused two other deities to approach me.'
'The "clown" doesn't seem to have good intentions and was clearly baiting Falpurgiana… Not to say the origin of his powers. They make me tremble all over… While the manager of the second stage seems interested in me, akin to how Caninarus was before.'
'Each stage is isolated from each other so the challenges must be unique to each other and their managers. That doesn't mean each stage is a ladder, but it doesn't mean things remain the same either. Depending on how one is, the next stage might be easier to complete then the second one or harder… however, I know things will become a little harder over time… as if I were starting a rank or two above the previous stage so to speak.'
'If I take that literally. Then Heroic now might be as difficult as the first stage's Journey's End. So how difficult would Journey's End be now? And the important question is, would I be able to finish it?'
'There isn't even a need to question it… Yes, I would. But this isn't just that; this is the entire second stage compressed into a single stage… would I be able to take on the whole second stage at once?'
'And if that were to be even harder?'
Philip took a deep breath before smiling faintly.
"I'll go with this one…" He said as he chose Falpurgiana's last offer
[A choice is made. The path unfurls…]
[The Trials have resumed]
[Journey's End Second Stage Full-Star Trial, begins…]
/SHINE!/
The sun above him in the skies above… burst like a supernova.
As the heat and light descended, Philip was engulfed in the radiant Armageddon.
…
"Urg… My eyes…"
[180:00]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains doubts the sanity of your decision and prays for a miracle]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields is furious at how mutilated his well-crafted stage has become and the futile fate of a promising Challenger]
[The Contested Greatest Jokester falls into a fit a laughter and asks if the bratty one is happy to witness the downfall of its most prized Challenger]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields tells you to ignore the others and focus, for it believes in your innate potential]
"Huff… Alright. I wasn't planning to give up here, anyway."
He looked into the distance, focusing on the outline of his opponent.
/SHUAAAA!/
The air danced in the extreme heat of the golden sun, a vortex of golden fire that engulfed the horizon amidst yellow thunderstorms.
As the golden grass was ripped apart by the wind, reflecting the golden light like confetti in the air. His opponent's appearance was revealed…
[Defeat Omun. He who remained amidst a collapsed world]
/BOOOM!/
Energy imploded before him, sending all the heated air aside and clearing up the area so their battle could take place.
"Hum..."
'This type of announcement is new... I wager this is one of the features of the trials...'
His hands before his eyes to protect them from the flying grass and dirt, Philip took a glance at his enemy…
Standing at over a chest higher than him. It was another furred beast with golden-white fur and massive limbs so wide it made bodybuilders tremble at the mere sight.
Its legs bent in strange ways, ending in two mighty blue hooves, and its palms only had four fingers each. Encased in a strange, glowing metal glove.
Despite the thickness of its fur, the beast was utterly covered in that strange metal, its body flashing with light in rhythm with the sun's trembling light as clouds passed by.
Its head was shaped like that of a bull's and above it, a pair of mighty, pointed-black horns reached for the skies.
A helmet covered its face, its heavy breathing fogging before the beast.
"A Minotaur?"
/Huff!/
The beast breathed deeply, golden sparks akin to embers in a metal grinder flowing from its nostrils whenever it exhaled. Its deep red eyes gazed down at him with singular intent.
But amidst the madness contained within, reason flashed...
/Sit!/
Philip looked at the beast for only a moment. Sitting down as soon as he was able. He could tell this fight wouldn't be exactly easy, but before it came to be, he was going to take the extra time to settle down his thoughts.
There was much to remember and imprint. He needed to clear the unnecessary and form a cohesive line of understanding… at least for all he'd be using here to defeat it.
So, under the heavy gaze of the towering beast, he entered meditation. His thoughts dragging away under the warm embrace of a dream, fluttering away under the distant echoes of a song he had never listened to before.
[The gentle heart of the forest pools your thoughts in its embrace…]
[171:45…]
[126:12…]
[104:05…]
[61:59…]
[32:50…]
[11:05…]
...
/Open…/
Philip opened his eyes. The world was still the same, and his opponent awaited before him as if nothing had changed.
The warm golden rays of light fell around him, slowly shaking off the heavy feeling weighing down his body.
"Phew... I tried my best, but it'll probably take me several days to process all of it properly... But this much will do for now."
There was a large gap between receiving the memories to properly integrating them into his being.
The issue was in making those memories his and not something implanted onto him like a graft... He felt there was a barrier of understanding between the two of them. If not for that, there wouldn't be much of an issue in performance every time he awakened from those experiences.
He went through several lifetimes of experiences... even if those all were his, he could not immediately translate them to his current vessel… an issue that would occur again once he crossed over to his original body.
And if that wasn't enough, there was the issue of just basic, conceptual strength… This body lacked the most basic means to perform the utmost forms of what he knew. Tonning down everything he knew so he wouldn't lose control of his abilities or worse was needed for him to fight properly as well.
That too, and the many other aspects this body did not possess... A lifetime of memories and experiences, but not a lifetime of physical training and cultivation to support them.
That was what he lacked the most now.
"Haa... I just need time to think. But that's for another time."
He turned to face the Minotaur, who was waiting for him amidst the golden grass.
"Let's start with something simple."
/Hold.../
Philip clenched his right hand and took a simple stance. One foot before the other, left hand before his waist and right fist slightly pulled.
/Slap!/
A burst of reddish energy flashed from his palm, traveling across his arm and rippling across his body like high voltage on a wire.
"Phew... Stage one."
/FLASH!/
Dozens of bolts flashed across his arm, coiling around it as they reached for the body. They fiercely rushed as if competing with one another, the sparks moving with such speed they often flew out the edges of his arms, creating a thin lace of energy at the edge of his elbow and shoulder.
"So far, so good. This much I can sustain without even needing to do anything else."
'It was all thanks to Flesh of the Heroic Spirit…'
[…
Approximated Qualities:
Physical Body: 0 B (7 A-)
Spiritual Body: 0 B (Limit B)
Astral Body: 0 B (Limit B)
]
'Once Flesh of the Heroic Spirit reaches the limit or evolves, my physical body will probably reach somewhere around A… Though all of that and what I thought about before taken in consideration, I wonder just how high these classifications can go.'
'Maybe there is a stat limit for the trials. Once that's reached, it will be up to the Challenger's skill to make up for it.'
"I'll figure that out after I'm done with you… Stage two."
/BURST!/
The sparks of energy around his arm became so dense they were akin to water traveling through his skin.
/SNAP!/
/SNAP!!/
The air around his arm twisted from the heat and energy… crackling with energy.
"Condese it even further... Stage three."
/FIRE!/
The energy went through another transformation. It now completely covered his entire arm like a mantle, swaying around the edges of his limb like cloth in the wind.
Like Armament, it clung to his body, going from the shoulder to the rest of his chest and back. The air around his fist sparked with light, igniting occasionally whenever the energy grew unstable.
"Hum… I'm feeling some discomfort… Stage four."
/SHAAA!/
The mantle grew more distinct, turning on the color of a dark-blue arm. Its surface was so smooth it reminded him of polished stone.
At his elbow, a long and sharp nail grew behind him. And a crown-like pauldron formed on his right shoulder. With his palm bent before his arm, the shape of the smooth material vaguely resembled that of a mantis' limbs…
Philip looked down at his arm and grimaced.
"… I don't think I can move my arm anymore. It's like I've shoved it in a hole in the beach and covered it with sand. Or covered it with a cast."
"This is my limit."
'This technique reminds me of Armament… It wasn't entirely without reason that the Complex recommended it to me.'
'Maybe there's some potential in fusion both together… although I think that's best not done. Not everything needs to be fused. They can work together just fine.'
"… But still… this isn't the limit."
'There's still one more stage left to go.'
Philip closed his eyes and sorted his thoughts, "Take a deep breath and…"
/FLASH!/
[Your body is transcending humanity]
His body ignited like the most volatile element being set aflame. A ball of fire rose to the skies behind him, leaving behind a long trail of burnt grass in its wake.
His skin changed, becoming covered with a thin layer of bluish-white gas that clung tightly to his body, causing his facial and bodily features to become unrecognizable.
The mist coiled around his limbs, pooling around small sections where it became so condensed it lost its attraction to his skin, flowing upwards before dissipating into nothingness.
Like water floating in space, the small bubbles of mist detached from his skin, moving away freely in the wind like small marbles.
His hair wasn't forgotten either. It turned into a block of mist, burning above his head like white fire. His eyes turned bright, shining through the mist like glowing lamps.
His right arm underwent the biggest change. The mist coiled around the smooth surface covering his skin, seeping into it. Cracks formed in his arm, but nothing happened after.
The mist flowed through the cracks, moving along the black shell's smooth surface. From his fingers to his shoulder, the cracks seemed to reduce the pressure within his body, allowing him to move with greater freedom than before.
Meanwhile, his clothes were still there. They seemingly fused with the mist, floating around him gently. Giving his inhuman transformation a more human-like appearance.
"This is… a strange feeling… It's different from what I expected… just a little." He said out loud as he looked at himself
His voice was echoing within itself. A little raspier than before; making it seem unnatural, as if something else was trying to imitate human speech.
Similar to a bird, yet distinct, it inspired wariness in others, assuming any were present…
'The feeling is like being in a constant state of Quickening if I can even compare both… It's like uh… like when I'm conscious inside a dream.'
'I feel as if my body is both here and not at the same time… As if I could do… anything.'
'An unwelcome feeling, for certain. It probably stems from the dissonance between my consciousness and how my body has become… All of my senses are now free of their previous limitations, so my brain must be interpreting it quite wildly.'
'In the end, you can't escape certain bodily principles. My brain evolved to be contained within an ordinary human body… even if I developed and trained extensively, it just isn't enough to cast aside some of its natural responses.'
'Maybe my actual body will adapt to it better… or I just haven't given this body any time to adapt… either way…'
"Stage five."
/BLAST!/
The surrounding ground shattered as a wave of mist exploded from his skin. Grass and dirt were sent flying with him at the center, burning and splicing everything in his path.
To the side of his arm, multiple bolts of lightning rampaged through the scenary in a conic shape behind him.
/Crack!/
The smooth shell around his arm cracked open, its pieces turning into a series of blue wisps that continuously condensed around his palm.
Like lit cables feeding energy onto a machine, the wisps moved alongside his arm from his shoulder, gathering at the back of his hand.
The excess mist on the back of his palm and alongside his arm was pushed outward by the potent energy, leaving behind a long trail that vanished quickly as it dissipated in the air.
Philip looked at his arm, pondering, "It's quite a lot of energy."
'This technique doesn't create energy from nowhere. Instead, it condenses what you have and releases it… that's the principle of the Mantis Critical… whatever.'
'Condense the energy until a certain point where it all locks together like a crossbow being pulled back. Each stage is like pulling the string back a little… until you release the bolt.'
'It's quite an overbearing technique, like Berinou's Falling Fist of the Beast. Putting a lot of strain on the body and forcing continuous concentration from the user to prevent him from destroying his own body. It isn't meant to be used with anything aside from itself… But there are exceptions.'
'Armament is a type of body alteration procedure. So even if the pressure on the body grows… When used in combination, the output they can release is quite significant.'
"I can even dare say this output is so high it would kill the previous me."
'Without a doubt, my body wouldn't be able to withstand if I were to release it all on it… But would I die?… Hard to say. This body isn't as resilient as my original one… but it sure can pack quite a punch now.'
'Maybe I could even kill myself like this… I can't help but feel surprised… But if a direct confrontation were to occur… It's hard to say who would come out on top. Knowing myself, this body would lose before it had the chance to gather power like this… But my current Abilities are also rather unique, so its hard to draw a direct line of comparison.'
'I'll have all the time in the world to train once I'm back in my real body.'
"Anyhow, I like it… But I do have a complaint… like most Legendary Abilities on the shop, they're all quite eye-catching."
Philip smiled faintly, although that was hard to see from his current physical condition.
[04:54…]
"Well, then… let's begin."
/Step…/
/FLASH!/
Philip dashed across the limiting line and started the battle!
/FLASH!/
/CUT!!/
Philip pierced with his fingertips, piercing the Minotaur before it even had the time to move. And with, release all the energy contained within his arm like a pile driver being discharged from tension.
/BOOOM!/
A wave of energy echoed throughout the plains as a beam of energy flashed before him.
As the dust settled, the scene revealed itself before him…
/Huff!/
The Minotaur, its body rooted in place, stood upright with its left palm blocking Philip's strike, having deflected the energy with no visible injury…
/Drip…/
Or so it seemed… Where Philip's fingers met with the beast's palm, warm yellow blood dripped onto the ground.
"That's an unusual color."
/HUFF!/
The beast exhaled strongly, sending powerful gusts of wind across Philip's body and the surrounding ground.
"Nice to meet you too…"
/BOOOOOOOOM!/
In response to his greetings, the Minotaur closed its wounded palm and wound up before releasing a jab so fast Philip only realized something was wrong when he saw himself sliding across the plains, his arms crossed.
To his left and right, his swords flew alongside him, never leaving his side as they cleaved through the wind and mist.
/Jump… Land/
Philip jumped and landed a few dozen meters back as he came to a stop. He swung his arms a little in the air with a curious expression before focusing ahead again.
'When did I defend? Was it instinct?… I already knew he was going to punch me before he even began moving, but I wanted to try blocking it after seeing the move… I guess my body thought otherwise, and with reason. I barely even saw that.'
'This must be the effect from Insight of the Awakened One and Enlightenment of the Victorius… Same goes for how I kept my balance with the ground. It's the combat experience of someone else now imprinted onto my bones… It doesn't feel right, but now's not the time for philosophical reasoning.'
/HUFF!/
In the distance, the Minotaur pulled back its hand, looking at him with a deep glare as it took a step forward.
"Enough introductions, I wager. Let's play."
[Your body is transcending humanity]
Philip went into a stance as his body flashed with energy once again.
/FLASH!/
"!"
/BOOOM!/
The Minotaur suddenly vanished from its location, reappearing before him with its hands high above him.
Its body shone with light as its hands condensed a strange golden energy into the shape of a long nail…
/PIERCE!/
/GRAB!/
Philip intercepted the beast's arms by holding onto them, the golden nail just a finger away from his face! He pushed back at the beast's body, both their arms trembling.
/Sizzle…/
At the point of contact between his hands and the beast's skin, the Minotaur's skin seared from the intense heat, leaving behind two palm-size burns on its bright white fur.
"H-Ha… You're quite strong… huff… But this time… I take the crown!"
/BOOOM!/
Philip's body turned to smoke, dancing between the beast's arms as they cleaved the air. He reformed beside the creature, delivering a devastating punch to its stomach!
/Shine!/
"Huh?"
But the moment his fist collided with the creature's armor, its whole body shone with light before dimming soon after. A resounding "Clang!" echoed as he pulled back his hand, like the sound of hitting a pan with a wooden spoon.
"… don't tell me it's dispersing…?!"
/SWIPE!/
/KICK!/
In a feat of great athleticism, the Minotaur swiped under Philip's feet with its right arm and kicked him in the chest as it spun around. Sending him flying across the sky!
/FLASH!/
The Minotaur then quickly got to its feet. Its horns shining with light as sunlight gathered on them, and within a second, it opened its jaw to release a sharp and instant golden ray!
/CLANG!/
Philip defended by positioning Zulgarcon before his body. The powerful artifact deflected the strike, causing it to refract, but in doing so the blade crashed against his body, sending him further back towards the untouched edges of the fields.
/Swoosh… Land…/
Philip crashed down like a comet. The heat of his body instantly extinguished all life within a hundred meters of him as they were all carbonized in mere moments.
"Urg… phew… That hurt!"
He squinted his eyes, looking for the beast, "For a big guy, he's quite agile… Though I should've expected a cow to kick like that." He said with some sarcasm as the day grew a little darker
He looked up with a faint smile. It wasn't that the day grew darker, but that someone was covering the sun…
/BOOOM!/
The Minotaur, after having jumped all the way here, landed before him with its fists closed tightly.
/PUNCH!/
They punched each other, but this time, Philip was pushed back as the Minotaur's body flashed with light.
"Tche!" He spat out as he pulled back his hand from the recoil
/SMASH!/
They struck each other again! Like before, Philip was pushed back as the Minotaur's body flashed with light.
/BANG!/
Philip punched again with even more energy, excited for the resistance. But as always, the Minotaur's body…
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
Five more punches akin to a church bell resonated in the fields. With each punch, Philip was pushed back slightly less than before.
/CLANG!!!/
But when the sixth punch connected, Philip wasn't pushed back.
"I figured it out…" He said with a smile as the Minotaur's body brightened. This time, its skin did not flash for a moment
"Struggling to divide it?"… /Chuckle…/ "Don't grow tired on me now."
/STEP!/
/CRACK!/
Philip stepped forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he lifted his right hand and struck underneath the beast's chin.
/BOOOM!/
The air pressure of the strike rumbled the surroundings, but the Minotaur did not step back. Its skin flashed with light, and as it did so, it delivered a fatal counterattack with the back of its palm against Philip's face!
Philip's smile was hard to contain, "You're tough… hm?… You want to trade blows?" He asked as he took a step to the side
'Even though there's a difference in strength, I'm still behind in endurance… I'll end up knocked out for a moment if it hits me right in the head… But this is quite entertaining.'
'When was the last time I threw hands like this?'
/HUFF!/
Even without understanding each other, their eyes said everything that had to be said…
/BOOOM!/
/BOOOM!/
/BOOOM!/
/BOOoo…/
They spent the next few minutes throwing punches at each other. Blocking, ducking, evading… but never leaving their positions.
The surrounding ground peeled with each instance of their flesh colliding. Reaching all the way to the near-indestructible rocky layer underneath the fields.
/BOOOM!/
With their last strike, both of them dropped their fists down, signs of injuries present at the tips of their knuckles. Even for the Minotaur, his gauntlet had cracked and deformed, and after a few strikes, he threw it away, preferring to punch him with his bare hands.
"…" Philip looked at the beast with a faint smile before walking before it… Strangely enough, the beast did not attack him, looking down at him as it waited for him to do something.
/Shine…/
Philip's hands sparked as bolts of energy sprung up his arm… "First Stage." He said out loud as he began condensing his power.
/Gleam…/
The Minotaur's skin shone as well. It pulled up its lips like a horse, revealing its teeth as its fur turned golden.
"Second… ahhh, whatever. I'm going all in. Fifth-Stage!"
/BURST!/
"Mokum… MUOOOOROOOOO!!!"
The creature exclaimed loudly as well, but Philip didn't understand what it was talking about… no matter, he could feel what it wanted to say.
It too yearned for something like this. With their bodies coiled in position, the energies between them clashed in the air, warping it as the cracked ground shattered off from the air-pressure alone.
Even on this reinforced battlefield. The power of both contestants couldn't be contained.
"Now for the grand finale… or rather, the opening act."
'I'm counting on you, teacher…'
/ROAARR!!/
His fist catapulted forward! As it cut across the air, the roar of a beast echoed throughout the plains! Even if in another shape, that technique couldn't be mistaken. It was Berinou's Fist of the Beast!
[Your body is transcending humanity]
He pushed himself forward once again, his body a clap of thunder!
"Release! Mantis Annihilation Point!!"
"MUOOOOOOOOOOROOOO!!!"
The beast too, prepared for the strike. A momentary flash of purple escaped its fingers, forming a translucent layer before its knuckles.
/BOOOOOOOM!/
Their fists collided in the air, where the air distorted and screamed with a sound like a burning bell and a hammer on a sheet of metal, but amplified a thousandfold. A white, searing flash erupted between their fists as the air was violently compressed and driven into a tiny, incandescent sheath of plasma.
/FLASH!/
For a heartbeat, everything became a shutter of light… A flash of ignition, leaving behind only their silhouettes as the world turned silent.
/SHAAA!/
From that incandescent point, a sharp, supersonic compression that brushed past anything in its path… The grass waved in the distance… the first thing to arrive at a distant point is a pressure jump, then a sustained gust. Behind the front, the air surged in a chaotic, violent flow…
/FLAP!/
A single, thunderous crack rolled across the landscape; grass bent and matted flat in a radial pattern… A shockwave so fast it flattened all grass within a kilometer!
Meanwhile, close to the collision, the air rolled into luminous tendrils. The plasma glowed and hissed; sparks crawling along their bodies.
The immediate wind punched at anything not bolted down with extraordinary power, ripping dirt and flinging pebbles in burning trajectories across the sky. Anything that didn't fly away from the blast melted into the super-heated pool around their feet, which too was blasted away from the turbulent air.
/Baddum…/
Seconds later, a deep, long rumble bled off into the far horizon. The rushing air current folded back on itself, eddies forming where gusts collided.
At the center, the two figures slowly moved, faint steam rising along their skin.
"Urg… my ears are ringing…" Philip muttered as he took a step back, only for him to almost fall.
The surrounding ground had turned into a sludge of molten dirt and rock. It was so thick and viscous it pulled at his feet, almost dragging him down into its depths.
Philip looked at his arm, but despite the impact it went through, it was completely fine. If not for his physical exhaustion and slight tingling in his muscles, he would've questioned if anything had truly happened.
'Right, in this form my body isn't as susceptible as it was before… But I can feel the tiredness… That said… ouch.'
While his body wasn't very damaged, his body had felt the brunt of the strike… Although thanks to the inherent qualities of his Abilities, he was resistant to such damage. Not to say that even now, his body was slowly regenerating, albeit slowly.
When their fists collided, the surge of potential from their fusing energies was so great the resulting explosion almost took him out with it. If it weren't for the momentary attraction between their bodies during the collision, Philip would've probably been sent flying again…
/HUFF!/
Before him, the Minotaur exhaled loudly, dissipating the mist and dust around them.
Under the heavy and toxic gases rising from the molten slag, Philip took a deep glance at the creature's arm. It was broken and wounded, its fur charred and peeled off its entire forearm. Its armor was slightly cracked in many sections, unable to bear the transferred energy from their collision.
Unlike him, the creature's body took the brunt of the strike where its armor failed, and the minor damage compared to the energy they released was quite impressive. Proof of its endurance and the quality of its equipment.
Even with Philip's strength, it was questionable who would outlast the other if they kept striking at each other like this.
/Step… Splurge…/
The Minotaur took a few steps back, and Philip allowed it to. He could tell from its determined eyes. Things were far from over.
It seemed excited, as if everything so far had just been a warmup!
/Jump!/
It jumped from the impact crater, over two dozen meters away from him, and grasped for the skies.
/Shine!…/
[Bearer of the Golden Fields reaches out to the believer]
Golden light parted through the clouds, beaming down on the Minotaur like a path to the heavens.
"What?! You guys can interfere in this? That's against the rules… wait. Don't tell me that guy has some sort of communion skill?… What about me? Where's my divine assistance?"
/Silence…/
'Humph… So can the others speak too? Are they silent not to interfere?… That can't be. That girl would've thrown a fit around now… there must be some conditions…'
/Shasha…/
From the heavens, something slowly fell to the Minotaur… a bow larger than Philip fell onto the beast's hands. The bow was quite simple in appearance, being fully ivory, like a tusk or a horn shaped into a bow.
The string was a golden ray of light. But what took his attention were the phantom outlines of other bows layered onto the bow's frame… It was as if this bow held many others within.
"A bow?… That's unexpected."
/Huff!/
The beast took the bow and held it in hand, facing Philip with clear intent.
"Just when I was liking the flown of things… very well."
He cracked his neck and arms with a light stretch.
'Time for phase two.'
/Shaaa!/
Philip held Edge of Frostibite, steam rising sharply from the hilt where his hand made contact.
""…""
/Silence…/
/Pull…/
The Minotaur waited no more. It pulled at the bow's string, a golden arrow of light forming as it did so.
/DASH!/
Philip would not let himself be a sitting target. He dashed after the beast, reaching it in the blink of an eye as a flash of mist remained whenever he moved.
/Flash!/
"Oh!"
The moment he reached him, the Minotaur also flew away in a flash of light, reappearing beside him, its string tensed to the maximum.
/RELEASE!/
/BOOOM!/
The supersonic arrow pierced through Philip's body like a comet streaking across the clouds. But as a wound formed on his chest, Philip turned to smoke…
/CLANG!/
His sword collided with the bow from above, but it held on without as much as a single mark.
"A flexible rapier would've been perfect here…"
/KICK!/
The Minotaur's hooves shone with light as it dashed backward, leaving behind a white trail of light. It was as if the creature were skating on ice, sliding across the scenery.
Whenever it moved, golden light fell, turning the green grass golden and revitalizing the land.
/Pull… Release!/
Its bow also morphed, becoming smaller and more compact. The Minotaur could now pull each strike with a single finger, releasing a series of arrows at such speed it was difficult to follow with the naked eye.
Like playing a harp, the Minotaur elegantly moved its fingers against the string!
/Boom!/
/Boom!/
/Boom!/
Amidst the bombardment of arrows, Philip ran after the creature, evading, blocking, and deflecting every arrow in his path.
/CLANG!/
The arrows were heavy, but compared to the first strike, they weren't threatening…
/BOOOOM!/
"!"
However, even amidst the torrent of arrows, some of them carried even higher power, almost piercing straight through his chest! The beast was crafty, morphing its bow with every pull of the string, mixing in arrows of different powers and forms as it drew distance!
His eyes narrowing in frustration. Philip caught up with the beast and immediately put its rampage to a stop!
"Hupp!"
He reached forward at the air, tugging at the creature's heart.
"?!"
The Minotaur immediately felt it. A strange power clutching at his heart!
/Shaa!/
Philip turned to mist. Grasping onto the beast's chest armor, he pulled and threw the Minotaur onto the ground while it was distracted!
/BOOOM!/
"…!!"
/PIERCE!/
Without even breaking his stance, the Minotaur released three arrows at Philip from the ground. He tried to block them, but rather than piercing, they all burst in front of his face, flashing like flash bombs!
/KICK!/
However, this did little to hamper his combat ability. Even if his vision went turbid for a moment, bypassing his defenses, he still approached the beast and slammed his foot down, forcing one of its arms to face the ground.
/Grunt!/
/SPLAT!/
The Minotaur replied by forming a dagger out of sunlight and stabbing it into its thigh, and while Philip recoiled at the pain, it took this chance to roll on the ground and turn its bow into a longbow once more.
/Crack!/
It shoved its bow onto the ground and pulled at once as it slid away!
/SPLATTER!/
"?!"
But at that moment, Zulgarcon pierced its back, searing the wound almost instantly. As the beast found itself in disbelief, Philip smiled.
From an Ability he got as a joke, it sure did quite some damage! All this time, Zulgarcon had been there waiting with telekinesis!
/PULL!/
With a combination of telekinesis and his control over blood. Philip pulled the beast close and cut at it from a flash-draw stance with Edge of Frostbite!
/BOOOOM!/
/CLANG!/
"!"
Philip tried to cut its neck, but the beast predicted that. It tilted its head and blocked the strike with its white horns!
/TACKLE!/
The beast then tackled Philip, its body shining together with its armor. The light seeped onto his skin, dispersing the mist and preventing him from moving past or through him.
/GRAB!/
But would Philip let himself be tackled this easily? He held onto the Minotaur's horns and slammed the top of his head onto its face before twisting its head and jumping over its body.
He pulled his right arm and prepared to deliver a potent blow against its back… "Mantis Annihilation Point!" He exclaimed as energy condensed in his right fist.
At the same time, an orb of energy formed left hand… He let go of the orb, letting it float between the two of them.
/PUNCH!/
He delivered a mighty punch against the orb, and the energy was transferred to Zulgarcon's handle, forcing it through the creature's body!
/BOOOOOM!/
"I'm not done yet!"
As he pulled the frost blade onto his hand, the world around him collapsed from the bursting power of his strike as it collided with the beast and the ground!
He held onto the Katana with both hands, a prismatic wave of light forming around its edge as he looked down from above.
'This blade isn't the right shape, but it doesn't matter.'
The swordsmanship of the Elven Empire… the advanced form that Yer-Al, the failed Royal Knight, failed to reach despite decades of grueling training… a desire so great he even threw away the noble blood he was once tasked with protecting and serving for the sake of attaining it.
Nine Shapes of the Eternal Kingdom.
'This body isn't strong enough, nor does it have the necessary aspects to fully perform it, but it doesn't matter. Even without Aura and Mana, I can still perform well through the Complex' blessings and its unique interpretation of the art.'
'It's only one of the many aspects of the Royal Knights, but to some degree, I'm one step closer to reaching the same level as the Princess' Knight, the swordsman said to be on an equal footing with the Emerald Sun Empire's Red Knight, the King's right hand.'
'I would say it's quite fast given how little time it has been since I began my journey. But with everything forced into me, if I couldn't reach this level despite that, I would rather call myself a rock…'
/SWING!/
The blade vibrated at a unique frequency when swung, creating a strange melody as it cut through the air. The prismatic waves parted into multiple spiralling lines, each with its own distinctive color.
/CUT!/
As the lines fell upon the earth, they cut deep grooves in circling and 'chaotic' patterns. Each line carried a unique elemental radiation, burning, freezing, dampening, drying, and otherwise irradiating the surroundings with its powers.
The cuts on the ground covered together into one last strike as they danced on the earth, leaving behind one final gash toward Philip's strike.
In the air, as he looked down at the aftermath of his attack, a thought appeared at the back of his mind:
'This shape… I see now. That's the emblem of the royal knights… No wonder.'
The rough shape of a flower with nine petals with its stem following the direction of his sword. It was quite the gruesome art piece as part of its clove through the Minotaur's flesh…
/Land!/
Philip fell before the Minotaur, giving it no time to respond. As he could still feel the intense desire of the creature, he stomped on its head and stabbed its neck with the frost blade, freezing it in place… but it wasn't enough to claim its life!
'It's too thick. I actually can't cut it properly with just this… It must be the difference in quality. This blade is just a low-end Legendary item, while this armor…'
His thoughts raced as he reached into the air, retrieving Zulgarcon from deep in the earth.
With the flaming blade in hand, he wasted no time and slashed down!
/CLANG!/
The Minotaur's armor shattered as he swung his blade, its shards forming a barrier to protect his body and deflect Philip's strike once.
/Growl…/
/FLASH!/
Purplish-violet light burst from the Minotaur's body, pushing him back as it rose to its feet. The sun above him dimmed as the skies clouded.
Purplish light rumbled above as thunder formed in the clouds. The once bright yellow sun slowly turned blue, casting the world in an eerie cold light...
"Urg…"
/Thunder!/
Purple lightning struck the ground around them as the Minotaur underwent its transformation.
"Huff… Oh, no you won't!"
'I have a bad feeling about this… He has to go, and now!'
/CRACK!/
Philip pushed against the ground, reaching for the Minotaur. As his hands reached for him, a barrier of energy pushed against them, ripping the topmost layer of his skin and exposing the transformed flesh underneath.
Even so, he did not let himself lose momentum. If he lost his footing here, it'd be all over.
"You're coming down with me, big guy!"
'I don't care if this body ends up crippled after this. It's not mine!'
[Your body is transcending humanity]
/PUSH!/
Philip stepped into the Minotaur's energy domain, his body being zapped and consumed by the raging energy. It was so much power Philip couldn't even imagine what would happen if all of it were to be released now.
Amidst the torrent of energy, his hands reached for the Minotaur's body, and he held on tightly even as he felt his insides turn and his vision blur.
[Your vessel is showing signs of…]
"HUPP!"
/Clench!/
He closed his right hand as he channeled all of his energy into it. A powerful stream of pressurized gas escaped from the gaps in his fingers, flowing backward from the energy waves emanating from the beast.
"Go back to your damn labyrinth and stay there!"
The strongest punch he could throw. A combination of multiple abilities that were only slightly compatible with one another…
[Your body is transcending humanity]
/SMASH!/
As his punch crashed against the Minotaur's chest…
/BOOOOOOOM!!/
A mushroom cloud rose high into the sky.
…
Amidst the epicenter of the explosion…
"Cough!… I've done it now… Once I turn this off… this body will collapse."
/Splat…/
Philip coughed pieces of his body as he stood upright in a devastating crater far larger than the one before.
His body was a disaster as multiple parts of his skin and flesh had been cut off, revealing the bluish, half-translucent muscle beneath. His body was charred and mangled in multiple sections, and even his eyes, lips, and other sensitive sections were gone. The mist had all but vanished, leaving behind only a faint white layer covering his body.
Underneath it, his transformed flesh remained, shining in unnatural colors. His right arm was nothing but a bony limb connected to the Minotaur's chest. If it weren't for Mortal Incarnation, he'd already be halfway to the underworld.
/Huff…/
"Y-You… just die… already…" He said weakly as he clenched his right hand, bursting the remainder of the creature's heart
"Muooo…ro…"
/FALL!/
"UGH?!"
The Minotaur fell onto him, crushing and pressing him onto the molten pool that surrounded them. His right arm almost snapped right then and there, sending extreme pain throughout his whole body.
But that wasn't his issue…
'I can't breathe!'
[Trial Completed - Challenger Rank Updated]
[Journey's End Second Stage Full-Star Trial]
[Congratulations Challenger!]
"…"
'Please… take this thing from me… I can feel the world grow faint…'
/Tremble…/
In response to the fight's conclusion, the skies rumbled…
[The Contested Greatest Jokester opens its eyes wide in shock. A thousand emotions unable to describe its feelings as its mouth fell to the floor]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields takes a deep breath and pats its chest in relief… wait… this wasn't meant to show!]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains is frozen solid in surprise. It doesn't move even as its pet wolf approaches]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields knocks its feet down in shock, never expecting such an outcome… And while its believer did not perform to his utmost ability, it says to take pride in your accomplishment regardless for you have reached the end of another's journey… May this be the start of yours]
/C-Crack!/
/FLASH!/
The Minotaur's body turned into countless fragments of light, some of them healing Philip of his injuries and stabilizing his condition. But just enough for him to maintain his state for a little longer.
[Bearer of the Golden Fields gives slight assistance to the Challenger. It insists that this action carries little intent and urges you to proceed before you collapse from exhaustion as that too is part of the trials]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields frowns but accepts the gesture… It looks to the side at a certain bothersome individual and asks if it can repeat what it said before]
[The Contested Greatest Jokester looks away and whistles… It says the day is great for fishing…]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains recovers from its shock and congratulates your achievements with a thunderous clap. But as said before, it urges you to proceed before your body collapses. It says it's still far from reaching its true potential]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields snickers at the mutt's shameless self-promotion in such a pressing time]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains rests its head. Saying it doesn't know what the little pimp is talking about. It informs the pimp that it should get on its tiptoes so it can listen properly]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields…]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields is restricting all unnecessary communication until the Challenger leaves the Second-Stage]
"…"
'Finally, some silence…'
[Due to your covenant with Falpurgiana Mulplex, Stage rewards are enhanced]
[Issuing rewards…]
[You've been granted 50 Trial Gemstones]
[Abilities -> You may partake in one Ancient Trial or be granted one Legendary Ability of choice]
[Experience -> One Ability may be enhanced past the Trials' upper limit - Legendary -; or a full Imprint enhancement will be provided]
[Items -> One draw from the Mythic Item list - First Denomination]
[Shards -> An extra 20 Trial Gemstones will be provided]
[Tickets -> First Denomination Gemstone Ticket and above]
[Extra -> Directly Inherit one Divine Ability from a chosen patron]
[Wish -> A wish from the Challenger will be processed and performed if possible]
"As expected, more changes… "
/Tremble!/
The world fell into chaos once more…
'Just when I thought I had a moment to think…'
[The Trials have been temporarily halted; proceed with caution]
[Caninarus Wolfern - Lord of the Glacial Mountains - suggests you pick the Extra option]
[Falpurgiana Mulplex - Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields - agrees… But it reminds itself that the mutt isn't sleek and it knows what it's trying to do]
[??? - The Contested Greatest Jokester - asks if its being chosen is still on the menu. It is serious this time; just look at its very serious expression. It hasn't been this serious in a thousand years]
[The Lord of the Glacial Mountains and Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields respond in unison: No]
[The Contested Greatest Jokester cries dramatically as it falls slowly to the ground]
[Bormun Taroursas - Bearer of the Golden Fields - tells the Challenger to proceed as they wish and not to be bound by pressure… But in the off chance it picks said option, then it'd like to remind you it has much to offer]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields gnashes their teeth at the old bull's shamelessness!]
[Bearer of the Golden Fields says it's just business. The herd goes where the grass is greener and taller, after all]
[Lord of the Glacial Mountains says its powers would complement him very well…]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields is bothered by the flies buzzing around its property and urges you to make the right choice right this instant else there will be aforementioned consequences!]
"… Cough…"
Philip coughed some blood, wiping it from his lips, 'Well, you don't need to say it like that. I already know what I need… but this time, it won't be that.'
'I'm certain the powers of a higher being would do me well, but once I leave, wouldn't it be possible to just get them through standard means? Why waste such a good opportunity like this?… There must be some higher condition if they're all pushing me towards it.'
'Not that I want to get her powers anyway… I'm no paladin to be praying to God to grant me strength.'
'Now then… From the name alone, "Extra", maybe this type of reward is unusual, and that's why the Gods are in a hurry… As for the rest, a few things caught my attention… Aside from a Mythic item, I wasn't given the chance to acquire a Mythic Ability, and if it goes like she said before, then this may be as intended.'
'It seems that to get a Mythic Ability, I must undergo extra lengths aside from just the monetary cost… This must be the Complex' way of striking a balance. Otherwise with so many Trial Gemstones, I'd at least be able to buy one Mythic level power and shatter all rules… At least that was how it sounded coming from her mouth.'
Philip shrugged as he crawled out of the crater, 'I don't want to go through extra trials. It feels like a pain in the ass, especially when they seem so vague… I still know too little to just go with the option, no matter how enticing it is… Even if I do succeed the trial, what if the Ability doesn't suit me at all? It's not worth it.'
'Experience, on the other hand, might be well worth it now… If I pour it all into my fused Innate… would its effects be shared with all other abilities like before? I don't know which Abilities of mine are at their ending lines and which others still have room for growth. But if I were to assume things, then Mortal Incarnation and Blessing of Sustained Growth should qualify for that.'
'Maybe they already reached Mythic through fusion… but if they did or not, it doesn't matter, only that I have such an opportunity… This is my choice so far, but I can't say it's the correct one given I'm certain of the value of 20 Trial Gemstones.'
'Could I buy such a procedure instead? The value of the rewards should be equivalent to some degree after all… Everything I can get here should be within the value of 20 Trial Gemstones, that is about the rule of the Complex. Some things may be more worthwhile to me than others, but from a certain perspective, likely one only the Complex can view, they are equal.'
'Does this mean a Mythic item and Ability are worth about 20 Trial Gemstones each?… I can't say. It would be fitting given Zulgarcon is one of the most expensive Legendary items and it costs just one. From the growth rate of prices, a twenty-times increase is within reason… although I did get Zulgarcon by limiting the cost of items I could get, so maybe there are more expensive Legendary items out there…'
'Still, is that what I need the most right now?'
'Then there's the ticket… First Denomination Gemstone ticket and above… If I get lucky and it ends up being above, then the value for the option will probably be higher. But the question is… is the Complex calculating that probability into the price of the reward already?'
'There are just too many ifs here. The Goddess certainly did not expect me to take on such a challenge. So she didn't prepare me for such possibilities…'
"COUGH!… Urg…"
After some thought. Upon realizing his body was rapidly deteriorating, Philip made his choice:
"I can't believe I'm going with this fucking option… If this goes on, I'll probably go through a mental rapture event every stage and lose my mind before even going back home… but fuck it, I guess!"
'I'll manage somehow.'
"Now then, is everything in order?… Good… I'll go with experience! Enhance Blessing of Sustained Growth past its limits!"
[Ability has been chosen. Providing experience]
[Blessing of Sustained Growth Limit -> The Guiding Hand -???-]
[Provided Ability -The Guiding Hand- cannot undergo classification]
[Mortal Incarnation 0 -> Limit]
[Mortal Incarnation Limit -> Transcended Vessel -???-]
[Provided Ability -Transcended Vessel- cannot undergo classification]
[Flesh of the Heroic Spirit 1 -> Limit]
[Flesh of the Heroic Spirit Limit -> Ten Commanding Incantations <|>]
[Provided Ability -Ten Commanding Incantations <|>- is beyond the trial's scope for augmentation]
[Forced Ability Simbiosys Limit -> Harmonic Core Integration 0]
[Harmonic Core Integration 0 -> 8]
[Mantis Annihilation Point 2 -> Limit]
[Mantis Annihilation Point Limit -> Oceanbreaker Point 0]
[Oceanbreaker Point 0 -> 5]
[Draly-Apyer Royal Charge 6 -> Limit]
[Draly-Apyer Royal Charge Limit -> Draly's Human Revolution 0]
[Draly's Human Revolution 0 -> 3]
[Nine Shapes of the Eternal Kingdom 2 -> Limit]
[Nine Shapes of the Eternal Kingdom Limit -> The Perfect Shape of the World Tree -???-]
[Provided Ability -The Perfect Shape of the World Tree- cannot undergo classification]
[Rising Fist of the Beast Lord 4 -> Limit]
[Rising Fist of the Beast Lord Limit -> Claws of the Mountain Ruler 0]
[Claws of the Mountain Ruler 0 -> 5]
[Insight of the Awakened One 2 -> Limit]
[Insight of the Awakened One Limit -> Soul That Achieves <|>]
[Provided Ability -Soul That Achieves <|>- is beyond the trial's scope for augmentation]
[Enlightenment of the Victorius 1 -> Limit]
[Enlightenment of the Victorius Limit -> Soul That Pursues <|>]
[Provided Ability -Soul That Pursues <|>- is beyond the trial's scope for augmentation]
[Dreams of the Great Tree 0 -> Limit]
[Dreams of the Great Tree Limit -> All-Embracing Will <|>]
[Provided Ability -All-Embracing Will <|>- is beyond the trial's scope for augmentation]
Looking at all the changes, Philip gulped down as a sense of immense dread fell upon him, "… Can we move on to the private quarters or is it too late for that?"
/Silence…/
'Right… Whatever it is, I'll be moved along regardless.' He said with in a defeated tone as his head fell down
He looked at the skies, "Pray for my well-being… I'll need it."
He put his back on the broken grass, his breath weak as his body went back to normal… As his injuries took hold of him, he lost consciousness amidst a rush of extreme pain and foreign memories.
/CRACK!/
As his body underwent another transformation, a door materialized before him, and from within, a hand pulled him inside… somewhere beyond the golden fields.
And that was how Philip's second stage went.
…
/…/
[… Thus, the answer to the question is ten with a thirty-five degree angle]
"Eh?… I don't understand…"
[Would you like me to rehash it all from start?]
"No, we've done that once already… I can understand the numerical answer, but where did the angle come from?" Viera asked as she tapped her finger on a thick book
[According to Nunex' mathematical equations, when the index for a standard formula approaches infinity. We must assume…]
/Knock knock…/
"Wait, pause… Who is it?" Viera asked as someone knocked on the door
"Miss. The Lord has awakened."
"What! So he's finally up?!"
Viera pushed herself out of her chair, opened the door to the office and dashed past the maid, who clung to the wall in surprise as she watched her running away. Above her head, she failed to notice a shadowy figure skittered across the ceiling….
…
Viera went through several turns, and two flights of stairs. On the third floor of the manor, she reached for the first door before her… but stopped.
"… arg… my head… what?… G-give me a moment to process it all… It's all ringing… fucking noti…"
Viera could hear words coming from the room before her. She wanted to listen closely but stopped when she realized there was no point in trying to hide.
/Knock knock…/
"Who…? Ah… Come inside, quickly!"
Viera entered the room and closed the door behind her, but what she saw made her freeze.
"W-what are you doing?!"
Philip was on the ground trying to take off his pants, panting as he bit his lip in agony.
"T-There's no time… help me take off my pants…"
"NO!"
"Urg!… It's serious! I fear I won't be awake for long!"
"W-Why do… that's not it… Are you alright?" She asked as she approached him cautiously
"I'm hanging on, but if you don't help me, we'll have a terrible accident on our hands!"
"… Can't you do it on your own?…"
"My body isn't listening to me!"
"So you aren't alright!"
"I assure you I am… now please… my vision is… urg…"
As he cried in pain, MT came to life:
[It is unfortunate. But with my current machinery, I cannot assist the user in his request. Please, perform as instructed to facilitate his actions]
"…"
Viera looked at the large obelisk in the corner of the room and frowned even more. In the end, she helped him stand and walk to the bathroom before awkwardly helping him pull his pants down… but just that.
"I-I'm not helping you with your underwear!"
"Huff… What's the problem? There's nothing there that bites…"
"Shut up!"
"D-Don't scream… just… just put me in the bathtub and leave me there… such a waste of a good one even…"
She helped him inside the bathtub, looking at him with concern, "… Are you sure you're okay?"
Philip let out a dry laugh as he rested his head on the bathtub, closing his eyes… "I often ask that myself… I'll try to explain… sorry…"
/Thud!/
His head went limp, hitting the edge of the bathtub.
"Philip?… Philip!"
"Urg!… Don't scream… I just need… a little rest…"
"…"
Viera hesitated about leaving, but in the end, she turned around after checking his body with magic. And although she felt nothing was wrong, she still stood by the door with her back facing him for a few minutes before finally leaving.
…
/Meanwhile…/
"Huff…"
'My head is splitting apart! It's all these damn memories' fault!'
[Castle Town ***** soothes your emotions...]
"ARG!… S-Shut it please…"
Philip felt momentary relief before it all came crashing down again, 'Goddamnit! It's all that girl's fault for keeping enticing me on and on and on!… If I had left, I wouldn't have had to go through… "AAAARRG!… Huff…"
'… such a fucking experience.'
'I don't even know anymore… how did this even happen?'
Philip closed his eyes and thought about the past…
…
/Back to the present…/
/GASP!/
"Haaa… Haaa…"
"Now now… It's okay. Deep breaths… Chest up… chest low…"
"Where… where am I?… I…"
"Keep asking those questions; let it all out. I don't want you losing consciousness on me again. You'll need the extra time to sort your head."
"Wh… huff… I'm late for school…"
"Sure you are… in your dreams… now wake up. You've slept long enough."
"…"
Back inside his private quarters, Philip awakened from another grueling session at the memory world. It took him some time to gather his bearings and recover, with him coming and going between multiple personalities as they competed over who himself was. But with Falpurgiana's help, he recovered in a little over a dozen minutes.
With that, he cleared his head with some cold water and went downstairs with her help, listening to explanations while he was at it.
In short, after he lost consciousness, she forcibly took him here and put him in bed to help him recover. He didn't ask her why or how she did that, for his head was far too bloated, but he appreciated the gesture.
She may be a brat, but she is devoted.
"… How… how long have I been asleep again?"
"For the last time, it's been around fourteen hours. And you woke up for the first time about two hours ago. This time, it was a little lower given your body's condition improved, and the way Mythical Abilities work isn't as you imagine. So the impact on your psyche was lower."
"Thankfully, since you weren't awake, those fourteen hours didn't count towards the total time you can spend here. A privilege the Complex will bestow on someone who went as far as you did… and on that note…"
/Punch!/
She punched his arm, making Philip flinch in pain.
"Hey! Urg… what's the reason for that?"
"That's what you get for doing such a crazy stunt. You got me worried that for a moment. There is no greater sin."
"You were the one who suggested that level of difficulty, not me."
"I… wasn't in my right mind… I'll pardon you this time, so let's put this behind us." She said with a slightly awkward expression as she scoffed faintly
"… It doesn't matter… urg."
"Does your head still hurt?"
"My head's been hurting ever since I got in this accursed place. After I'm done here, I'll gain PTSD at the mere mention of the word trials…"
"You're doing fine. Despite only completing two stages, you're already far beyond others outside it thanks to your efforts. It's rare to see anyone possess a Mythical Ability, much less multiple of them."
"Multiple…"
Philip thought about his status and opened it:
[Registered Abilities:
Transcended Vessel -???-
Ten Commanding Incantations <|>
Harmonic Core Integration 8
Oceanbreaker Point 5
Draly's Human Revolution 3
The Perfect Shape of the World Tree -???-
Claws of the Mountain Ruler 5
Soul That Achieves <|>
Soul That Pursues <|>
All-Embracing Will <|>
Telekinesis 0
]
[…
Innate - The Guiding Hand -???-
]
"See? As I said, multiple." She added as she tapped at his status sheet
"… What do these symbols mean? Why do some Abilities not have anything to classify them?"
"These symbols are the marks of Mythical Abilities. They designate their ranking for Mythical skills have no levels… They are complete in themselves. That's one of the reasons your memories weren't as rough as before."
"Most skills of such level carry unique powers that cannot be trained through ordinary manners or those within the boundaries of what the Complex deems a mortal. Much of it is instead a power formed elsewhere and integrated into you. Or the way to achieve them is instead encrypted and sealed within you so once you reach the rights to unravel them, their secrets will open before you."
"It is all a reflection of how it was when their users first acquired them. Many created their own abilities through chance, but others were granted them through their own actions, even if accidentally… Many such Abilities are a product of chance than anything."
"I don't think I understand it fully." He said as he massaged his temples
She shrugged, "I don't understand it either. That's the beauty and mystery of them all. It is humiliating to addmit, but some of those powers are far beyond me."
"Haa… What about the other question?"
"Hard to say really, I've never seen that before. But my bet is that the Complex is just thinking about what to do. You see, the Complex takes time to perform some actions; and when we're talking about worldly defying powers that can alter the very foundation it is built upon, then any process related to it may take quite some time to be completed."
"In your case though, things should be fine. Mythical Abilities derived from others are the same thing as those abominations I've seen before… It's more like the case of your sword but inverted… Abilities just strong enough to not fit in the stage below but too weak to be comparable with the rest… Not that it's an insult, the mythic realm is the epitome of everything. So what's there to be ashamed of?"
"You'll understand when you take a good look at it… a word of warning though. This Grade you received is temporary… I'm loath to say it, but once you start the next stage, if you do not accomplish the same you did before, you won't be granted the same privileges as now."
"This goes with what I said before about maintaining balance. The Complex doesn't want you, even someone as capable as you, to gain so much power. That's why it'll never reward Mythical Abilities out front, and even if it does reward anything of this level, it'll be underwhelming given your efforts."
"Even if you try to hold on to your Gemstones to buy greater powers, you won't achieve anything because the Complex values those prices at your progression. If you wanted to buy anything, then you'd have to go through other means..."
"If you want to pursue such powers, you'll have to consider doing extra challenges… The Complex wants promising challengers to understand the weight of those powers and the legacy they carry… but you don't seem keen on that." She said as she looked at his exhausted face
"Was it evident?"
'I already have a lot to pull with me; I don't want anything more on my wagon…'
She exhaled and waved her hand around, resting her head on the table for like him, for she too was tired… "… I've said enough, take a look at some of them yourself and see if they're worth it or not…"
"Well… if you say so."
Philip opened the Achievement Stall and soon found new options and services available. Of course, those were only a fraction of everything he had been granted access to.
"Say… now that I've reached the pinnacle of Mythic, there shouldn't be anything I can't do, correct?"
"I guess? The shop's services are boundless, but they have some limits… But the more currency you have, the more means to achieve any task will appear before you. So I suppose even if what you want doesn't exist, the Complex can either find a solution… or make one."
"Heh…"
Philip laughed drily, some energy returning to his face as he proclaimed loudly, "… Complex! Tell me how much it would cost to buy Falpurgiana Mulplex!"
Her face went dark, "You're kidding me…"
'Of course that's the first thing he asks about…'
[Inputs have been verified. Information is being updated]
Both of them looked at the screen with perplexed eyes…
""It's working?""
[Ownership of Falpurgiana Mulplex' Oversoul]
[80 Trial Gemstones]
"Damn! Just short of it." He said as he looked at her, only to see her sigh in relief
He frowned, raising an eyebrow at her actions.
"Haha… Ahem… Just how far I've fallen!" She said dramatically as she tried to maintain her persona
"I'll get enough soon." Philip added with a faint nod as he decided on a short-term goal
"Dream on! My power is recovering with every successful trial you go through. You'll never be able to afford me!"
'Can't believe I'm saying this… Ever since that ability of his fused, I've been unable to hear his thoughts properly, and it's pissing me off.'
"And don't you dare try to disperse my contribution by getting other deities involved. I will revolt before you have the chance to do anything!"
"Humph… If I can't win you over like this, then it's the old-fashioned way…"
'She is more affected by this than I thought… Maybe a Goddess does have a Human side hidden inside her after all… how about this then?'
Philip tensed as he put his hand forward dramatically:
"Complex! Formulate a flawless dating strategy to win over Falpurgiana Mulplex' heart!"
Her head recoiled back as shock spread on her face, "Haaa??"
[Inputs have been verified. Information is being updated]
"Oh shit…"
"This isn't how it was meant to be…"
[Guide to reaching a Deity's heart - Unknown author]
[100 Trial Crystals]
""That's cheap.""
They looked at each other. The silence was deafening…
"Look… Not saying just because… but I've grown a little curious… you know?" Philip said as he cleared his throat
She clenched her teeth as her eyes trembled, "Don't even think about it. As if a simple book can encompass the complexities of my being!"
"I guess that's something all men agree…"
"…"
"Ahaha… Oh yeah… what happened to those shards I owed you?"
"Humph, you don't need to pay me back. The Complex already collected the fee… by cutting it off entirely. That's the privilege of your achievements."
Philip looked around, "I don't see much of a difference."
"Would you have preferred a castle to dwell in, Your Highness?" She asked with an exaggerated bow
"It would've been nice, yes…"
"… You're still thinking about it, aren't you?"
"You got me… How about we make it fair?"
"Hm?"
"Complex! Formulate a flawless dating strategy to win over Philip Vinten's heart!"
[Inputs have been verified. Information is being updated]
"What?!"
"Ohoho…"
[The Heart of a Wanderer plagued by Destiny - Unknown author]
[2 Trial Gemstones]
"Oh yeah, that's a title fitting me…"
/THUD!/
"HUH?! Why is his guide more expensive than mine?" She said as she slammed her hands on the table, cracking it
Philip smiled, putting his pinky on his lips as he looked away dramatically, "I am indeed a man of many complex and sensitive emotions…"
"As if! I can read your empty head even without doing it intently!"
She almost spat on the ground in anger. She looked at him with narrowed eyes, saying:
""That doesn't make me any less romantic.""
"Hey! Stop copying me!"
"See? You're too obvious!"
"Ho? So you know what I'm going to say next?"
She rolled her eyes, "Don't even try it. I can see the result of this a mile away."
"Can you give me a score then? How good am I with my lips?"
"Ha! As if you'd ever reach that far. I might allow you to kiss my feet for your recent accomplishments, though." She said with a smug smile as she lifted her feet from underneath the table
"You'd be surprised how many men would be interested in that. Back on Earth… Forget it. Where were we again?"
"You talk as if you weren't one of them… but fine. Change the subject all you will." She said as she crossed her arms… Was that disappointment?
Philip tried his best not to recognize that, "I don't know what kind of men you see in me, but I'm not like that… enough jokes though, my head's already better, so let's get this moving so I can plan for the future."
Philip opened the store and filtered so that only Mythic skills would appear. There were so many the bar wouldn't even move when he scrolled at it.
/Snap!/
"You're not going anywhere like this. What's the point of filtering so that every possible Mythical Ability ever recorded by the Complex would appear? There are even conceptual ones here… too inefficient."
"Give yourself a break and let's cut this list down to what matters most, shall we?" She said as she snapped her fingers
The list flushed before his eyes, leaving behind only a few options Philip read with an inquisitive gaze. Their descriptions were vast and complex, so he tried to make sense of what he read as he went on.
[Seven Step Reincarnation - Mythic]
[200 Trial Gems (+)]
"What's this 'plus' symbol next to the price?" He asked as he pulled the screen closer to his face
"It's the trial you must undergo to possess it. Usually, you must go through a similar experience as the original possessor to awaken it. The key to that is often found in the description, but I wouldn't trust it."
"The price isn't the actual price; it's just how much you'd need to fork out to buy it out right… but if you undergo the trial and complete it, then at the end the price would be considerably discounted… assuming you achieve any sort of success inside."
"Regardless of your abilities, the trial will be far more challenging than anything you can face here, so despite everything you've shown me, I can't say if you'd have a chance at all… The Complex really doesn't want anyone getting these."
Philip listened with a heavy heart, but he read the notification out loud once she finished, "Let's see… Seven Step Reincarnation… Reincarnate seven times onto a fixed point in time while retaining advancements and carrying them over to your reincarnated past self… Causality is voided and mended to make reality plausible…"
"What did I just read?"
"Pretty good, no? I've only had the chance of reading a few of them since even we aren't given the privilege of interacting with such. So the little I know came from rumors… It's my first time seeing it all in person." Falpurgiana added with a small smile as she took another glance at the screen
"Quick, let's check the rest."
"Can't you just read it all at once?"
"That would be boring. Now scroll down!"
"…"
[Golden Tree - Mythic]
[120 Trial Gems (+)]
"Erm uh… The Ability to reach the pinnacle of existence in all things through which life flows. Even that which is conceptual… for as long as meaning is given to it."
"To see the path of evolution and strive… I get it now. This is some sort of Ability that allows you to evolve anything you achieve the requirements determined by it… Insane regardless… way out of my paygrade too."
"I know this one. I once met a being that is a descendant of another being that came in contact with this power directly. Long ago that is… It belonged to a lifeform you'd deem resembling an Elf. A Hero whose power once ended and saved a world, and whose power led to the birth of a God."
"If only it weren't ridiculously expensive… but it seems to have some steep requirements of use."
"Of course. Golden Tree is in itself a talent born from its user's lifetime of experiences. Without them, what even is its use to the uneducated?"
"Quick, let's keep going."
"Okay okay… Give me a moment…"
[Automatic Achievement Calculator - Mythic]
[70 Trial Gems (+)]
"I can almost afford this one. Let's see… This seems to be some sort of ability that guides the user to his desired outcome regardless of circumstances. It calculates and provides the most effective route to any request at any moment… It seems to do quite a lot more as well."
"Of course it does. It wouldn't be Mythic if it didn't do that. Do you even know how rare your options for rewards were? While I don't disapprove of your choice, I still think the other one was more suitable… regardless, what is done is done."
"The next one seems quite interesting."
[The Card Rule - Mythic]
[500 Trial Gems (+)]
"This price is beyond ridiculous. I may not even get this many Gems even if I were to perfectly clear the whole trials without flaw. What even is this?… Hm?… Ah… Oh… It's a whole ass System."
"Manipulate all of creation through cards… that's a pretty baddass description."
"I think I've heard of this once." She said with a pensive gaze as she tapped her chin, "It's a man-made system to aid humanity created by a deity of exceptional skill and power with the assistance of others in the distant past. The system eventually served its purpose when a hero rose and took it for himself, liberating humanity and paving the way for a new era to emerge."
"Funny to see it here, but I guess that was obvious."
"Next…"
[Soul of a Higher Heaven - Mythic]
[300 Trial Gems (+)]
"… Your soul ascends to a higher dimension where it can interact with the world beneath it and reshape it as you will?… What even is?! Just ascend me to Godhood by now!" Philip said as he snickered
Falpurgiana laughed, "Haha… this alone might be stronger than the current me…"
The two of them went through a few dozen more abilities, each of them equally ridiculous as the last… but of course, Philip could not afford any of them. And with reason.
These were the best of the best. Some were so powerful he even felt sorry for Gamerverse. It made him think about selling it instead…
The goddess' statements weren't wrong. Such abilities were better off left behind as mere memories of the glorious past than shared with others, for all it took was one dumbass to end the world… hell, most of those abilities were born amidst such calamities! Why entice the same fate onto this world?
If they did not start with a destroyed world, then they ended with one. No, in-between.
…
After he went through some of the Abilities, Philip took a rest to think about his future.
"Hum… I suppose I'll go with the usual then. I'll seek some abilities that are fitting and continue as I've been doing."
'Now that my Innate Ability has evolved and grown stronger thanks to my fusion skill also transforming; I won't be able to use it as an exploit any longer unless I improve it again. Until then… I'm stuck with either individually enhancing each ability, or not doing that at all.'
'Of course, they're still under the Innate's influence, so their growth will be boosted quite significantly.'
'… I don't know how many stages there are ahead of me, but the next one certainly isn't the last. With my current strength, I should be able to reach Journey's End again at least until the Fifth Stage… but whether I can complete that is another story. Much less as I did now.'
'I have a whole day to prepare. I'll be fine. Even if it becomes inefficient to raise certain skills with my shards directly, I can still acquire more and have them work their way up as I complete the trials.'
'It wouldn't be much to get a few utility ones like All-Embracing Will as well… I should seek a mental one to help me cope with these exhausting memories… Maybe even aim at fusing a few abilities further as well.'
'Maybe seeking a higher grade Skill Fusion would be worth it also… At the same time, maybe getting a few custom-made items as well… if the Complex can do whatever I want, maybe it can create certain items… Could it make an Origin Orb? Ha!'
'Why not get all of this world's technology transcribed onto a data-sleet so MT can incorporate it into its calculations? Even if some things don't translate well, some formulas might.'
Philip slowly calmed his thoughts, looking at Falpurgiana with a calm gaze.
"… Have you settled your mind?"
"Yes… I'm ready." He said as he got up from his seat and jumped away
"… What are you doing?!"
"Taking a nap." Philip replied nonchalantly as he put his head on the sofa
"You know how precious our time is, correct?"
"I am, and right now I've decided to sleep and cool my head a little. Goodnight~…"
"Sigh…"
'Maybe that isn't too bad… I've also been experiencing some turbulence of my own due to his actions… I might as well rest here while I still can… for I feel like I won't be able to once this is all done.'
"I'll wake you up in two hours so we can continue."
"Make it at least five…"
"You'll have as much time as you want to sleep outside after we're done with everything. I won't take no for an answer."
"… Where are you going?"
"Where else? It's not like there are other rooms around. I'm taking some rest of my own… I… why are you following me?"
Philip smiled smugly, "Now that you've said it, sleeping on a bed seems like the better choice; it was quite comfortable."
"… Do whatever you want, but if you snore again, I'll kick you out."
"I don't snore!"
"Maybe not on an ordinary day with your original body. But this time you snored so loudly you almost pushed me out of bed with the air pressure alone."
"Why does that even matter, anyway? This is my private quarters!"
"And you're my property!"
"Says the God who was almost within buying range…"
"Do you want to sleep on the ground?"
"Not at all."
"Then follow me quietly and sleep just as much."
Philip went upstairs and jumped on the bed under Falpurgiana's questioning gaze. And soon after, he went to sleep.
What followed suit was a great dream… and a rude awakening. From there on, it was time to get ready for the next challenge. For Philip had a goal, to achieve Full-Star once more! Not only in the next stage but in all subsequent ones until the end.
He prepared himself as much as he could and spent the remaining hours in meditation and relaxation. He would've tested the Complex' privileges more if he could, but with a foreign body and a Goddess breathing down his neck, his curiosity was, unfortunately, cast aside.
Once everything was over, he jumped ship into the next adventure.
…
[The Challenger has been confirmed]
Philip opened his eyes to a massive white, rocky mountain. Wherever he looked, he could only see tall stony constructs, as if he had been tossed into a stone forest.
The sun above was dim and weak, almost utterly red upon a dull, gray sky.
The ground and walls were covered in powder, and white with curiosity, he tasted it… /PFFT!/… It was pure salt.
"Cough!…"
'The air smells of dust and a thousand rusty buckets…'
[The second step has been taken. As per the ancient pact, the path to the divine is retained]
[Your tale continues. Do not let yourself be forgotten]
[Before you remains the world of those who left their mark in history…]
[…]
Philip skipped all the annoying notifications as his head kept ringing and his stomach rumbled. It took him a few moments to recover, and as he did, the skies split open!
/THUNDER!/
[The Trials have been temporarily halted; proceed with caution]
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[Your actions have gathered the attention of a higher being]
[Your actions…]
[Multiple higher beings have gathered on the stage. In accordance with the rules, a Pantheon is temporarily formed]
[Caninarus Wolfern - Lord of the Glacial Mountains - sees you have finally attained the body of a warrior. But it reminds you that is but a fraction of its tale]
[Falpurgiana Mulplex - Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields - asks who spread the news and attracted the locusts. It looks at a certain troublemaker and frowns]
[??? - The Contested Greatest Jokester - looks away with its arms crossed. It was wondering the same thing! It definitely did not spread the news around because it thought it was funny!]
[Conqueror of a Thousand Battlefields clenches its teeth hard…]
[Bormun Taroursas - Bearer of the Golden Fields - awaits the Challenger's battle. May another glorious moment befall the fields!]
[??? - The Perfected One - takes interest in your ascent]
[Kulpqi Emblema - King of Dasirlala - takes interest in your ascent]
[??? - Oathkeeper of the Twelve Paradises - takes interest in your ascent]
[…]
[Goll Adawl Xail - Bearer of the Second War Horn - welcomes all to his stage… and pleads for no unnecessary bouts, for the stage is quite delicate]
[Bearer of the Second War Horn takes interest in your ascent]
Dozens of beings took shape in the skies, all looking down at him from their celestial seats up above.
The pressure bearing down on him was immense, but it did little to diminish his enthusiasm.
[Multiple prepositions are made]
[…]
Philip cracked his knuckles, "Well then… time to get started."
'Straight through in one strike like before!'
Philip smiled, stepping onto his next challenge.
…
.
.
.
Notes
I was going to end this Arc this chapter, but guess what? We reached the chapter word cap!
So I'll leave it to the next chapter.
Thank you for reading. And while I know I could've continued with the Arc, I felt its best to end things like this... for my sanity.
Comming up with the names and oftentimes descriptions for these things is a little tiring, and if I had to repeat what we did for the first and second stages for the third, fourth, and fifth one while also adding in the interactions with the higher beings, fights, and subsequent rewards, it might've taken another two full-sized chapters.
Let's not count the trials the Gods gave Philip afterward, I tried to conclusive but we'll probably explore more about it later on.
Philip will not spend some time honning his mind before returning. After that... I already said what was going to happen.
Thanks for reading.