Chapter 47 : Start of the trial (1)

Right now, Embra is looking at the girl, who requested to take her in as his discipline, in disbelief. He doesn't even know how he should reply to the girl whose heart he can see through because of his Haki. Embra can feel that the girl is seriously wanting to be his discipline and get stronger along with great sadness. He controls himself and thinks,

'She is being serious, Oi. Last night, all I could feel from her is resignation and she gives the impression of a normal villager girl who is not familiar with fights much less demons. Now, she wants to learn under me? Why? Because she saw my strength? *sigh* Please spare me the trouble, girl. I gained new information from that demon and I get to know that there are indeed demon slayers in China. It seems the demons call them 'demon hunters'.

So, I was thinking of abandoning the peddler disguise to change into a swordsman but, if she is with me, it is gonna be ... a huge pain. For now, let's persuade her to give up. Taking a discipline? Hell No. I myself is just an amateur.' (Embra's thought)

Embra takes a deep breath to calm down his mind before approaching the girl. He carry with him a gentle air of an adult in contrast to his young age. Walking closer till he is a step away from the girl, he crouches down to lift the girl's shoulder with both hands. The girl looks up at Embra in hopes of her acceptance but, Embra smiles gently to her that in her eyes, Embra looks like a gentle old man.

"Girl, Last night, You did not give me the impression of someone who wants to pursue strength. What makes you change?" (Embra)

Mingzhu sits properly and answers back to Embra with her clear voice that sounds sweet in ears.

"Last night, I lost all my family. My parents, my brother, and my friends are all eaten by the demons. I run away but, if not because of your kindness to save me, I would not be here. I no longer have a person I can rely on in this world and I have no place to return.

Half of the reason, I want to become your discipline is to offer my gratitude for saving my life and the other half is because of my selfish desire to not wanting to stay still when demons like Aunt Chen are running around.

I want to get stronger even for a bit so that I can save a life. Please, esteemed swordsman, take me as your discipline." (Mingzhu)

On the outside he appears to be thinking deeply while looking at Mingzhu that is now back to her previous 'dogeza' position, but, he is troubled inside.

'Ugh. Now, it becomes a level harder to persuade her. *sigh* Her reasons are not bad too. And, when she tells herself that she is now a lone rat..., Ugh. No matter what, I am not strong enough to shoulder another person's life yet. So, let's do my utmost to make her give up and leave her in some decent looking city.' (Embra's thought)

Embra gets up after thinking of ways of ways to deny her request and walks back towards the forest. Mingzhu hurriedly follows Embra and was about to plead but, Embra says first without looking back,

"It has not been long since you lost your family and friends. So, I doubt your resolve to become a swordsman. First thing first, prove to me that you have resolved yourself by going to your village and prepare a burial for your family yourself.

Show me that you have strong determination and willpower by overcoming your sadness and grieve of losing your loved ones. I will meet you at the village today evening.

Wait for me at the entrance till I come." (Embra)

Embra who is talking without looking back disappears from Mingzhu's sight as soon as his words finished. Thoughts like she have abandoned her and run away appear in her minds but, she quickly shook her heads to dispels those negative thoughts because her instincts are telling her that, Embra will come back. So, she bows towards the place Embra was last seen and declares her strong will.

"I will show you my determination and wait for your arrival at the village entrance, master." (Mingzhu)

After bowing once towards the direction Embra has disappeared into, Mingzhu walks back to the village. Her twisted ankle and scratches are already given treatment by Embra's clone but, it is not yet completely disappeared. Nonetheless, she walks back to the village to do as Embra said. Soon, two shadows appear on top of a tree branch, looking at the direction Mingzhu walked to.

"Oi. Original me!" (Embra clone)

"What, my clone?" (Embra)

"That was an act of cowardice. Why the hell did you run away and leave that girl alone?" (Embra clone)

"Look here, my clone. Before you doubt me why not think about our situation, huh? You were listening through the system, aren't you? Then, you should know why I abandon her." (Embra)

"*sigh* I know. I know that you have decided to get into contact with the demon hunters in China and learn 'breath' from them before going to Japan but, that girl was serious, you know?" (Embra clone)

"Ugh. You are being a pain in the as* right now, clone me. Just shut up and go to the previous city. Find those women who I sold the tea sets to and ask about some work for a girl. I am going to sleep." (Embra)

"*Sigh* It is a waste, original me. I think we are strong enough to defeat any lower moon though. Well, it is true that we just made the first step in the way of the sword and are not deserved to call ourselves as masters but still, we can take her in as a first student of our sword style." (Embra clone)

"Why the hell are you even talking about teaching my sword style to someone who I don't even know? Does she have a gift in swordsmanship? What if her talent is not swordsmanship but, instead something, like martial arts or archer or maybe a cook? I don't want to destroy her life. *sigh* My head is arching from thinking too much. Just do what I told you and go away. Shoo Shoo" (Embra)

"Now that I look at myself from another person view, I look like a f* wimp." (Embra clone)

"What a f* great way of insulting yourself... Da*n it. Just go already." (Embra)

The two quarrelings soon quiet down with the departure of the clone Embra. Embra himself knows that what he has done is an act of cowardice but, for the sake of getting to the pinnacle of swordsmanship, he doesn't want any kind of obstacles including disciplines. But, he is not cold-hearted enough to abandon a twenty years old teen girl in the middle of the forest.

That's why he sent his clone back to the city so that he can find some good work for her. Embra takes a deep breath and make up his mind,

"Yep. This is for the best. For now, let's sleep. Oh, that tree looks good." (Embra)

Finding a tree that is tall enough not to be seen by someone below, Embra climbs up the tree using Chakra in his feet and finds a good place to sleep. But, fate is not kind enough to let Embra sleep peacefully because, as soon as Embra falls asleep, a golden light approach him and an old man in white clothing appear. golden light shines around the old man that he looks like a divine being.

The old man looks at Embra who is sleeping peacefully in the tree branch and thinks,

'So, it is him. The one who entered my world five years ago. Che, it took me too much time to find him. Just what kind of god is supporting him? *sigh* There is already someone here who came from outside like you and together you two will bring a great change to this world, which I don't want. You outsiders are not needed here. This era must be destroyed and I will create a new civilization from scratch.

So, just silently disappear. Boy, I don't have a grudge against you but, for the sake of this world's future, you must be erased. I will send another person in this way too.' (The old man's thought)

The old man is none other than the God who rules this world. He is an ambitious god who is eager to gain more strength so that he can go up in ranks and leave this world faster. He is a stubborn man who does not like changes and he is already fed up with the humans of this world. So, he has already laid out plans to destroy the world and rebuild from scratch but, two individuals have been reborn in his world that he is about to destroy.

When new elements are introduced, the future begins to change in a way he doesn't want. The unknown factors like Embra and another person who is reborn in this world brought about a huge change in history and the old man foresee that. So, he decided to take out unknown factors from the game.

The old man knows that a god stronger than him is protecting two outsiders including Embra and he will incur that god's wrath if he were to make a move on them but, he has the perfect weapon.

The trial of the true self

That is the trial every mortals and god have to go through before they get acknowledgment from higher-ranked gods. The trial is a ruthless trial in that everyone who fails it has to pay the price and there is no exception, be it a mortal or a god.

The trial of true self tests an individual's personality to forcefully show their true self. Seven sins and ten commandments are tested and those who pass the trial are favored greatly in Heaven. But, to those who fail, that individual will be consumed by his own emotions and become a corrupted being that destroys everything in sight without reason.

The trial can be started by a god who rules a world, or gods that are ranked 'main god' and above. The participant can challenge the trial by their own will or the god who starts the trial can invite the participant with a reward. Those who are invited cannot deny the invitation as long as the one who invites has a higher ranking than the one who is invited. And, those who fail the trial will be determined as - 'they fail because their minds are not pure and no one will be held responsible'.

Yep. Even if a god invites the participant with a reward and the participant failed, that god will not be held responsible. And, once the trail starts, it will not end until the clear result come out. Meaning, no one can disturb the trial be it, creator gods. That is the rule of heaven. Taking advantage of that rule, the old man exercises all of his authority as a god and invite the participant, Embra, to the trial.

"By my authority as the god of this world, Arluzax Dunbalf, I invite you mortal, Sky Embra, to the trial of true-self. Dare you accept the trail, thou shall get the divine armor, Klerksdorp as a reward." (The old man)

A golden light escaped from the old man's hand and it envelops Embra's body. Because the top of the tree Embra is sleeping is already in a separate dimension created by the old man, the light cannot be seen from the outside. The old man laughs,

'Buahaha. This is a trial I myself have not passed yet. There is no way, you as a mortal will pass. The probability of passing is one in a million for us divine beings while the probability is one in a billion for you mortals... Buhaha. You can only blame for your luck to reborn in my world. Next time, do not get in the way of someone's ascension, alright mortal? Buhah- !!' (The old man's thought)

The old man is feeling proud to be able to take out one unknown factor from his game. He is on a parade to be able to take out someone under a god's protection without getting punished but, his happiness did not last long before he feels himself being constrained by something invisible.

'My soul? Did someone constrain my soul? Who dares... What? I cannot use my divinity! ' (The old man's thought)

The old man panicked and looks around to find the party responsible for this but, he was foolish to looks around. The one responsible for constraining his soul is already behind him with divinity swirling around her on top of her wrath that freezes the whole world. The old man feels his back sweating nonstop and before he can utter a sound, he was turned back forcibly by invisible hands.

All colors are drained from the old man's face and he trembled uncontrollably under the intense gaze of a blondie goddess who is full of wrath. But, she turns towards Embra who is being surrounded by a golden light and asks the blue-haired girl beside Embra.

"How is he? Can you turn back time?" (Goddess Lashili)

The blue-haired girl with white wings behind her back replies to the goddess after trying everything she can. Her voice is filled with sorrow and tears are filling up her eyes.

"...N-No. I could not... The trial is already starting." (Keinnayi)

Goddess Lashili grit her teeth in anger and glared at the old man with eyes filled with hate. She asks the old man in the low voice just to raise it to the highest later.

"What the hell did you do? DO you have ANY IDEA WHAT DID YOU DO?" (Goddess Lashili)

(AN: It was at this moment that the old man knew, he fu*ked up.

OK. Before you guys ask questions, please wait for the later chapters... Don't be rash.)