Chapter 33: The Final Trial - Reflection of the Soul
The Corridor slowly faded away as if it had never been there.
The room was the same as the previous one, was this the last trial?
The system reassured me of the final trial with an appropriate mission to boot.
[The Player has endured countless difficulties and obstacles, showing time and time again that it's possible to break through the physical barriers of one's body.
Those since ancient times dared to take the trials lightly as nothing like this had ever been shown to them. Today we will see if mankind can evolve beyond their primitive ways…
Having survived the punishment has proven the system that the player is ready for the single most difficult and final test. The test of one's inner demons.
Mission; Face your inner demons, accept what lurks within… In doing so one will come out stronger than ever before.
Reward: +5 attribute points, Successor of the Trials, ???, ???
Failure will result in the disappointment of the world like the previous mission implied…
Failure will result in obsession over one's desire, becoming a being of eternal sin…
Secret objective; Defeat the final boss.
Reward; A random creation skill in accordance with the player's affinity.
Good luck to you, the player. The final trial will commence shortly!]
With the final wish of good luck, the system window vanished as it knew I wasn't able to refuse the given mission. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness, quicker than usual, trying to make sense of the room I was in I looked around and quickly found that it was a large neutral dome, locked inside with whatever the demons within might mean I steeled my resolve.
One by one torch began to light up the room, just enough to show that my observation skills had been on point. The room was empty except for a large liquified orb in the middle.
Having an eerie resemblance to the previous trials, I truly didn't know what to expect…
Deciding to sit down I began my philosophical thinking about how this might fit together with all the previous trials. Then suddenly I felt doubt creeping up inside of me.
"The demons within… The system surely didn't…"
Thinking about it made me worry, but at the same time, what could I do about it?
Wouldn't it be better to accept whatever got thrown towards me and face it head-on?!
That was when the silence got broken by an all-too-familiar voice.
"Of course the system did what you are thinking about! I thought you would have figured it out by now, having to face the punishment and even having fought me before…"
That was when it clicked, fitting all pieces together. Certain of what was happening although still unable to believe it I uttered out to the voice; "No… It couldn't be… You… You are me?!"
The voice laughter out in mockery as it slowly revealed its appearance.
"Hahahaha, took you a while to figure it out, yes… In a way, I am defiantly you.
For the final trial, those worthy of the ancient knowledge are doomed to face off against themselves. Ultimately most failed in this ordeal, but sometimes the occasional chosen can prevail, gaining more than they ever desired in life. A life free of doubt and negativity… But Geo… Tell me, are we? Are we free to live the life we wanted?"
I couldn't say for sure, frustration took over making me shout out the first thing that came to mind.
"I am! Having been born in Nobility brings so much restrains and so many responsibilities…
I wanted to get away from those looking down on me… I wanted to be truly free… Free like those beside me!"
"Those are some heavy words my friend, time to put your resolve to the test!"
The orb started to melt, falling to the ground like a pool of liquid. Slowly it began to regroup, forming into a body… My body! My biggest worries had become reality as I was about to face off against myself, once more… The liquid being had a striking resemblance to myself…
Speaking out all the worries from within. It tilted its head looking at me mockingly as if it knew…
It knew about the background behind the Birchwood family… A proud family…
Refusing to support the commoners… The Bastard Nation… But I was different,
which is I ran away from home, to find my true purpose in life!
"That is correct Geo! Your family is on the front lines regarding the privileged approach to the people! An approach dating back centuries, search your feelings! You know it to be true!"
The liquid form truly spoke of one of the biggest holes in my heart, truly a demon to behold…
The actions and consequences of the nobility towards the people…
Unable to accept the ways of nobility I charged at the liquid form with blind rage.
[Rage Lv. 1] Activated.
"Raaaaggh!! How dare you speak of my family that way! True, most are nobility…
But they to had to fight for their position in the world! Having fought in the war of light and giving support to those who needed it most!"
The liquid Geo easily blocked my rampage as it became clear it was an exact duplicate of me.
"Hyahaha, you think that would be enough to get rid of the darkness within your heart? To get rid of the demons within?! Don't make me die by laughter!
I am the manifestation of your doubts… Regrets… And even more, the hate that subsides within your soul!! Don't think losing yourself in anger is the problem to everything!"
The liquid manifestation of hatred, doubt, and regret instantly sweeping me away with one of the moves I had known all too well. Earthen Wall. Instead of pushing it upwards like I used to do, the manifestation used it to instantly push me back, ganging its angle in such a way that we were back where we started.
Without a second thought, the manifestation began digging preparing for a long battle to come, doing the same seemed like the best way to go.
We knew that the one who finished digging the defense had the upper hand.
Unable to think of something else I did what I knew best…
Preparing for more trench warfare to come.
Thinking I could take a breather I looked up, instantly regretting lowering my guard for only a moment I saw a hail of stone edges coming my way. What could I do?!
Would this become a repeat of my last experience?! No!! I refused to accept that, which is why I too began to barrage the stone edges. At the same time, making sure my shadow form couldn't close in on me I summoned many stone spikes around the trench I had built. For a moment it felt like I had survived the unending hail of stone edges. Taking this opportunity I jumped on top of my trench, wanting to assess the situation. When I saw the manifestation had the same plan it finally dawned on me why this trial shouldn't be taken lightly in regards to the others…
It truly was a trial to overcome one's darkness from within…
Having to outsmart myself meant I had to accept my flaws but was I able to?
Those flaws made me run away from home… To go on a journey of truly finding a place to call home… A journey to learn more about myself and the world around me…
Wanting to become a better person I knew what had to be done as the battle continued to rage on.
Volley after volley we anticipated each of our moves…
There had to be a better way to confront the darkness within me…
But what could I do? A battle of attrition? A slugfest to see who would be victorious in the end? At least our fists would be doing the talking instead of trying to keep each other at bay from a distance, this plan began to make more sense by the minute. But what if the manifestation wanted me to do this? What if it anticipates what I am about to do? Thinking about it made my mind grow mad.
Eventually deciding there was no reason for me to think about it as hard as I did…
Why would I? I was fighting myself right now! An opportunity most people in life don't get… I shouldn't be sulking about memories! Instead, I should be taking this battle more seriously, taking it in completely! If I was fighting myself I wouldn't be satisfied if the other wouldn't be giving his all…
"Stop! This isn't how we should be going at it… I have a better way to settle the score!"
Oh, yea?! And how do you expect that to turn out? Don't forget I know your every move… even before you do them… Because… I… Am… YOU!!"
My rage subdued by acceptance I steeled my resolve for what was to come.