The air turned bone-chillingly silent as the sound of the chainsaw echoed through the trial ground. That silence was short-lived, however, as the group of mortals erupted.
"Bastard, what have you done!?"
"Have you lost your goddamn mind? How could you do something like that!?"
"He must be a lunatic! Everyone, quickly get away from that madman!"
The crowd furiously spewed curses at Samuel. The scene of a child being brutally cut in half was too cruel a sight for their fragile hearts. Yet, not one person dared to step forward; fear had already crept deep into their souls.
"Noisy," Samuel snorted coldly. He was starting to get annoyed. He scanned his surroundings, then ferociously charged toward a trembling old woman nearby, slashing down with his chainsaw.
Clang!
The old woman's eyes widened with terror as the chainsaw and a sword clashed. Her feeble hands trembled, struggling to defend against the impending danger. But how could a woman with one foot in the grave compete with a vigorous youth like Samuel?
Samuel quickly overpowered her. The deafening roar of the chainsaw drowned out her pitiful cries as it mercilessly sliced through her head, splattering fresh blood on the snow-white floor.
[+1 Origin point gained from killing player #1897]
[1 Origin point automatically used to increase weapon-body constitution]
With a sinister grin, Samuel focused his attention on a middle-aged man standing just a few feet away. As Samuel's cold gaze locked onto him, the man shuddered, feeling an icy chill run down his spine. He stepped back fearfully, fingers clenching tightly around a steel rod.
Samuel kicked the severed head toward him and dashed forward. The middle-aged man hastily dodged the flying head and refocused, but Samuel was already upon him, brandishing his chainsaw with murderous intent.
With deadly momentum, Samuel slashed down. The man managed to block the chainsaw with his steel rod, foiling the attack just in the nick of time. Samuel didn't even blink. He immediately grabbed one end of the rod with his left hand and slid the chainsaw down toward the man's clenched fists, intent on sawing off his fingers.
The man's pupils shrank in terror. He quickly relinquished his hold on the rod to protect his hands. However, much to his misfortune, the steel rod, now in Samuel's control came hurtling at his head, ruthlessly striking his skull. His vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him.
Seizing the opportunity, Samuel followed through. A second later, the man's headless corpse lay peacefully on the cold floor, lifeless and bloody.
[+1 Origin point gained from killing player #567]
[1 Origin point automatically used to increase weapon-body constitution]
As the mechanical voice echoed once more, Samuel experienced something truly unique. A strand of golden energy surged from the ground, flowing into his body and strengthening his bones, organs, and muscles. It then wrapped around his chainsaw, enhancing the sharpness of its blades and greatly improving its speed.
This was the result of upgrading his Weapon-Body Constitution. With each point gained, both his body and his weapon became stronger. This was a mechanic the others were unaware of, one Samuel had only just discovered.
'Such a mystical feeling... it's both soothing and addictive. Undoubtedly, killing them was the right choice,' Samuel thought, joy blossoming in his heart.
Earlier, when the trial began without any immediate changes, Samuel had found it strange that nothing happened for the first fifteen minutes. Carefully recalling the trial's instructions, one detail stood out; there could only be ten inheritors.
If more remained by the end, the trial would be considered a failure and everyone would die.
Realization had struck him like lightning: the trial wasn't about facing external forces, but rather internal ones. It was a bloody fight for survival where participants had to eliminate one another. The image of the godly figure looking down on them, killing thousands without a blink, amplified this theory.
Buzz... Buzz... Buzz...
The chainsaw's twin rows of razor-sharp blades whirred violently. With a loud laugh, Samuel unleashed a massacre. After killing three people, his strength had almost doubled. With each life he stole, he grew stronger. These weak mortals were no match for him.
The mounting casualties meant nothing to him; he butchered them like pigs, showing no mercy. Samuel's black hair danced in the wind, his eyes flashing like fierce lightning. He looked like an evil god emerging from the depths of purgatory.
"Everyone, let's attack together and kill him!"
"That's right, there is strength in numbers... Ahhh!"
The mortals finally began to gang up, their eyes full of hatred and madness. They fought until their vision turned red, but they were utterly defeated.
[Trial ends in 20min 26seconds]
"What a pleasure..." Samuel took a deep breath. He felt a warm sensation coursing through his being, sharpening his mind as if he had been reborn. By now, he had ruthlessly slain nearly four hundred people. His strength had undergone a total transformation.
"Ahhh!"
A miserable cry echoed from a corner of the palace. Samuel turned his gaze toward the source, a cold smirk forming on his face. He saw a young woman whose sword had just pierced the heart of another girl.
'Looks like they're finally figuring it out. It should be obvious by now. The fact that I alone can fight hundreds of people proves something is wrong. No... even if they suspected it earlier, they lacked the resolve to act. Truly pathetic.'
'Being restrained by morality even in a deadly situation... how lamentable,' Samuel thought with disdain as he slammed his hand onto a youth's head. Blood poured from the boy's orifices as he collapsed with a resounding thud.
Samuel laughed heartily, moving with blinding speed. Since these people were going to die anyway, they might as well contribute to his path to success.
The massacre continued until only four minutes and eight seconds remained. Samuel glanced coldly at the slaughterhouse. The majestic palace was now filled with innumerable corpses. Only ten mortals, Samuel included, remained standing.
The trial had ended. Samuel felt a sudden urge to eliminate the remaining nine survivors. The idea of facing such variables in the future was unpleasant; it was best to cut them down now while he held the advantage. But an unknown force restrained him, making it impossible to move.
"Congratulations on passing this trial. You have earned a reward," a cold, emotionless voice resounded throughout the palace. "Mentally summon your light screen. It is visible only to you and, of course, to me."
"Collect your rewards and leave. If you are still here after one minute, you will be eradicated. Your time starts now!"
Samuel did not dare anger this supreme existence. He willed the screen into being.
***
Inheritor: Samuel (Alive)
Inheritor Status: #10 (Alive)
Weapon-Body Constitution: 2379 (Used to grant a unique reward)
Reward: [Accept] / [Reject]
***
'Accept!'
***
[Converting 2379 points into rewards... Processing... Done!]
[Congratulations!]
[You have gained an unorthodox cultivation manual: Chaos Qi Heart Sutra]
[You have gained an innate skill: Mask of Deception]
[A Transmigration Ticket has been bestowed by the Cosmic Emperor!]
Do you want to use the Transmigration Ticket? [Yes] / [No] (Refusal will lead to certain death)
***
Samuel stared at the glowing screen, curiosity flickering in his eyes. He wanted to read the descriptions of his new skills, but time was running out. His gaze turned complex as he looked at the word "Transmigration."
Taking a deep breath, he etched the faces of the nine remaining inheritors into his memory.
"This is going to be a real pain," Samuel sighed, shaking his head.
"Begin transmigration."