The sun rose high into the sky, marking the arrival of the third day’s noon. During those three days, Eric attempted the trial over and over again. Each time he made little advancements, with the rare leap that really motivated him to continue.

  After receiving an incredible number of attacks, his shirt was in complete tatters and his pants were barely surviving. The arrows that had attacked him during the first few meters of the trial were nothing compared to what came soon after.

  During the first few meters, there were only arrows and as unpredictable as they were, Eric could easily see a natural path of advancement that would allow him to clear the way. The problem was that after he got used to the arrows, fire began to shoot from the walls, floor and ceiling.

  When he got used to the fires, the arrows returned with a vengeance. The first round of arrows was barely strong enough to pierce him and would get stuck within his muscles or skin. However, the arrows that joined the flame were a different matter entirely. They were only slightly bigger but the impact that they dealt was incredible. If they hit bone, then they would send Eric hurling back a few steps. And if they didn’t, he would still be jerked as the arrow dug deep into him.

  Yet, even through the increasing difficulty that the trial passage presented, Eric still managed to advance past the flames and even counter the arrows. First, he found a way to strengthen his stance and footing, negating most of the impact. He did this by thinking back to the second-floor trial and incorporating what he learned regarding his muscles and how he used them to cross the platforms.

  “I didn’t even realize how much I was learning when doing it,” he said, twirling his foot and stretching his muscles. “Is this muscle memory? Was that also enhanced? Or is it just a byproduct of how conscious I am of my body now?” Taking a deep breath, he once again dismissed his thoughts. “Whatever the reason, this is amazing.”

  Dealing with the flames was a different matter altogether. Sure, he could endure the pain and power through it, but he didn’t want to. “I need to see the limits of what I can do now. I’ll use skills later.”

  So instead, once he was able to somewhat ignore the new wave of arrows, he began to dodge the flames entirely. It was far easier than he thought once he actually didn’t have to worry about the arrows. What made the fire so dangerous was how wild and unpredictable it was. But once he could put all his attention toward it, he realized how acute his sight had become.

  He began to notice how the floor and walls moved right before they were about to do something, like spit fire. That wasn’t to say that he was always able to react in time, but it was a start.

  When the second wave of arrows began, he actually decided to stop there and not advance further. He wanted to be sure that he could navigate through sections he already knew and not encounter further risks. “Don’t really want a giant arrow to skewer me to the wall.”

  So, he continued running the same distance back and forth. Through countless repetitions his body’s responsiveness grew explosively. He no longer had to allow himself to get skewered just to evade the flames, he could now deal with both. Either he dodged them both, or he redirected the arrow, at times even catching it with his bare hands.

  He had already caught arrows days ago, but there was difference when it was your only worry and when it was only one of your worries. “Plus, they’re completely different arrows,” he said to himself, comparing them side by side.

  Something that really aided him, and allowed him to reach this level, was his hearing. It wasn’t a drastic change, but it was noticeable. A whistle here or a click there and Eric was already moving his body in response.

  This pattern continued as he slowly made his advance further into the trial. Using the arrow as a marker for how far he should go, he would repeat the same treks over and over again until he mastered them.

  When constructs began to appear, chasing him through the entire passage, he had to adapt once again. Some shot fire, others small needles, and the worst part, they flew. Once their ammo was depleted, they tended to ram into him and detonate. They were the biggest reason his shirt was completely unusable at this point.

  But now he was ready, he had already made it toward the end during the third night, the only reason he didn’t step onto the platform was because he didn’t like how he arrived. It was forced and a giant arrow, a spear really, managed to lodge itself in his leg. Even his hand was being necrotized by a small needle.

  Though, thanks to his bloodline assimilation, that seemed to ignore the System restrictions, he survived without issue.

  Bloodline assimilation increased!

  ????????????????: 77%

  “A testament to the amount of injuries I’ve endured over the past few days,” Eric said, remembering what the window said the last time he saw. As he lightly massaged his shoulder he inhaled deeply. “Let’s get this over with then.”

  He stretched lightly, but it was still somehow more effective than any other stretch he had done in his life. Knowing what to move and how to move it really affected how his body responded. Distant muscles had a connection with each other regardless of the distance.

  After he was finished, he felt something that had been flowing lightly settle in place. He had noticed it before, but it was too widespread, and it wasn’t his focus. So, like previous occasions, he ignored it and set his eyes on the passageway and without allowing any time to pass and for thoughts to build in his head, he leaped into action.

  From the side, redirect it. Above, dodge. In front and side, block and dodge. Like that, Eric was taking note of all his actions. While he was determined that this would be his perfect run, it wasn’t a guarantee, and anything could be of help. Flame, jump. Needle construct, complete evasion, two steps back. Giant arrow, twist upper body, another step back. Advancing was about powering through everything, it was about making your way regardless of obstacles. Barrage and depleted constructs. Use barrage.

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  With a step that was lighter than he intended, Eric stepped into the final room. Last night he wasn’t able to get a proper glimpse of it, but now he had the perfect opportunity.

  It was about the same size as the room on the other end of the passageway. The difference been that there was a stone floor and an elevated platform that Eric was sure was the key to clearing the trial. But before he stepped on it, he saw that the back wall had an opening like the first room. Walking around the platform, Eric peered through.

  Unlike the opening that only showed the floor and the sky, this one showed something beyond.

  “This seems to be a cliff edge,” Eric said, managing to look downward into a small dirt path that connected with a street. Lifting his head, he focused on what was in the distance. The street slowly becoming full of buildings and then something more. “Wow,” he said with what he thought was a sense of melancholy but instead only came out flat, but he didn’t notice.

  It was a giant city. The buildings followed the architecture that Eric associated with India, bulbous tops and colorful exteriors. It was a sight to behold as it blended traditional with functional and futuristic. But there was a certain sadness in what he was seeing. It was what fueled his attempt at melancholic marvel.

  “It’s dead,” Eric said, finally noticing what it was that made him associate the scene with something sad. “There is no activity, neither near me nor in the distance. There is no noise, not even the wind is blowing... There is no life,” he added, a bit detached from the scene.

  Eric stared at the city that was before him, a certain compulsion to remember overtook him and only when it finally let go, did he turn, ready to step on the platform.

  When he was about to step onto the platform, one of the walls opened and a small stone box came out. Moving to inspect it, Eric only found a bracelet inside. Its design was simple, he had seen many like it back on Earth, yet it evoked a sense of awe from him.

  It was mainly made of a black string, expertly woven into a thick band. In the center was a spent metal piece with an intricate angular pattern. And on the edges were two metal pieces that easily clasped together.

  Putting it on his right wrist, Eric felt a sudden wave of mana extend from it. “It feels like the storage ring, but far denser in mana and… complex?” he said, unsure of what he was feeling from the bracelet.

  With a nod, he stepped onto the platform and entered the portal that opened before him.

  ----------

  Deep within the southern continent, in what once was an unapproachable monument to times long since gone, a meeting was being held within its confines, carefully watched by a giant and seemingly slumbering beast that was covered in foliage.

  Ten tall humanoid figures sat on wooden chairs discussing different aspects of their new reality. They wore large robes that thoroughly concealed whatever was beneath them, revealing nothing about those that wore them.

  “How goes the battle to the north?” a figure with a green veil asked, facing the only person who was standing. The voice was sterile, nothing could be discerned about the speaker, neither age, gender, nor even accents.

  The one who was standing was clearly a warrior, adorned with the best armor they could afford purchased directly from the System. But he deserved it. As it was through his efforts and that of his two companions that they were now able to reside within what was once a great and desolate husk, now a slowly blooming tree.

  “The beasts are relentless but thanks to the involvement of those that are called humans, they must battle on two fronts, slowing their advance significantly,” the armored man answered.

  “How about the task given to you by the great one?” a figure with a red veil asked, their covered hand gesturing at the beast behind them.

  “The target has been observed and preparations are being made as we speak. We believe that some of their strongest fighters will definitely participate in the tournament. Their refusal to establish a hub will be their weakness as they will have to depart earlier in order to find a portal to the tournament and we will have an even greater window of opportunity. This will allow those of us that will also participate to also contribute to the target’s capture,” the armored man answered.

  “Good, good,” the figure with a red veil said.

  “Any information on this ‘Littler Light’ or Solace?” a figure with a white veil asked.

  “None at the moment. Even our greatest magic could not locate their exact location. Though we have been able to confirm that Solace is to the north, we can’t grasp more than that. Our magic gets disrupted the closer we approach. And there is something to report about Littler Light,” the armored man said.

  “What is it?” the figure with a white veil asked.

  “A problem arose while trying to divine their location. Though, it could serve as a hint to their true power,” the armored man began.

  “Continue,” the figure with a white veil said, gesturing with their hands.

  “As you know, to divine one’s location, you must first have enough magical energy to reach the target’s location, correct?” the armored man asked.

  “Indeed,” some of the veiled figures said in unison.

  “Yes, of course. And you then must have enough magical energy to also overpower any protection that they might possess,” the figure with the white veil said, completing the explanation.

  “Yes. The problem is… that even though we combined all of our magic wielders, druids, warriors, alchemists and even those that only possess mana but have no way to use it.” the armored man let out a breath through their nose. “It still wasn’t enough,” he said, preparing himself for what came next, but unlike what he expected, there was only calm in the room.

  “A charm, perhaps?” a figure with a yellow veil suggested.

  “So early in integration?” the figure with the red veil asked.

  “Greater treasures than that already abound,” the figure with the yellow veil answered, their arms wide gesturing at the giant tree they were in. “So let us not jump to conclusions.”

  “Apologies elder but I must disagree,” the armored man said. “The amount of magical energy that was used was beyond considerable. If this ‘Littler Light’ has such an artifact, than that is even more concerning—"

  “I don’t believe—"

  “Yes! Our tree is great and will only continue to become greater!” the armored man exclaimed, raising his voice and interrupting the figure with the yellow veil. “But the existence of such a device for defense suggests the existence of one for attack, for destruction, for greater construction. Any of these could be a detriment to our efforts and cause us great harm down the line. We must really consider sending some of our own beyond the desert, to not only retrieve our missing people but also scout beyond our borders.”

  “While I do not appreciate being cut off in such a manner,” the figure with the yellow veil said, clearing their throat. Through the magic that the veils possessed, the light coughing sounded muffled and distant. “You do make some logical points, though I will express my strict disapproval of sending parties beyond the desert. Some have already betrayed us.” Though the veil’s magic obscured it, it was clear that by end their tone was not a kind one.

  “A question, Raxel,” the figure with the white veil said.

  “Please, without care,” Raxel, the armored man answered.

  “Have any settlements other than our own been discovered in the desert? Near our own or near any of our enemies?” the figure with the white veil asked.

  “Other than that of the beast general, none that I’m aware of,” Raxel answered, matter-of-factly.

  “Then let us forget about the matter of Solace entirely. We will deal with them in due time. For now, I believe our situation with the target will resolve itself. Let us just fine tune the details,” the figure with the white veil said, their veil extended as a smirk was growing underneath.

  During the entirety of their discussion, the great Krisk did not move from its resting place. Its torso moving ever so slightly as it peacefully slumbered, though not truly resting. Through its connection with the tree, it felt all in its vicinity and through that connection, it kept the tree and its people safe.

  Tournament of the Strong: 26:14:50