.....NINETY THREE

My mind moved rapidly as I counted the auras I could feel in the surroundings. I also found myself in a large incarnation wielding a long blade. My eyes shifted as I tried to look into every nook and cranny of the dangerous locations. More than twelve powerful auras were in the large clearing, their bodies emitting stupid levels of power as they began to circle around me.

I calmed my breathing at this unexpected and possibly perilous situation as my large incarnation grasped the long blade tighter, my skills ready to move at the slightest movement. [Flash Step] could be used to move me to another location I could see, but the entire area was enclosed with no exits in sight.

There were dense foliage and frozen surfaces all around as I could make out the varying sizes of beasts circling me. Their menacing eyes honed in as I felt movement once more, this time I watched the beasts I had been fighting with appearing one after another. The extremely fat [Walrus] materialized first, with the [Arctic Wolf] after, and finally, the [Emperor Penguin] that had the skill that allowed for all of this to happen.

The air was palpitating with roiling essence as I prepared to fight for my life and find a chance to slip through this encirclement. The penguin looked towards me with its head raised disdainfully when a clear voice suddenly rang out in the surroundings.

"You are a peculiarity."

My eyes searched to see where the voice was coming from as my thoughts rapidly moved, but I could not find the source of the voice.

"When you first appeared on this Land, you were very weak and surrounded by others just like you. Yet, every time you returned after that you had grown significantly stronger, strong enough to even take out one of the contenders here. What exactly are you?"

The voice was sonorous and strong, being seemingly feminine. I didn't reply and only continued to keep my focus at the many surrounding beasts.

The voice rang out once again.

"Oh well, it doesn't really matter. You taking down one of the contenders with your own power qualifies you for the trial currently taking place."

At these words, my tension slightly calmed as I wondered just exactly what I had gotten into. I probingly asked,

"A trial of what?"

The beasts around me reigned in their wild auras as a disdainful voice came from the [Emperor Penguin] this time.

"You humans do not know of the secrets and intricacies of the special locations of the Beast World. These Spiritual Lands you call nests and routinely come to bully those weaker than you, are trial grounds meant to give birth to the toughest beasts."

What? My mind absorbed this brand new information as I continued to listen. I was finally able to find the source of the first voice as it rang out once again, this time from a transparent red figure materializing in the air.

"Yes, this is one of the Spiritual Lands where the most powerful beasts appear from. I underwent the strenuous task of upgrading this Tier 1 Spiritual Land into Tier 2 by using quite a bit of treasures for the possibility of creating another powerhouse in this era of war with the Demons."

The transparent figure had a fiery red color with the most exaggerated curves, taking the appearance of a human. She didn't seem to let out any aura of power, but she gave off the feeling of extreme danger. I continued to listen as I watched her move closer, her figure becoming extremely clear with every passing second.

"I have found no success so far, with talented individuals not being borne in these past few decades, and that did not change even with the coming of demons. Yet you...dear human, you hold promise."

The red figure floated in front of me with an air of elegance, and I could barely make out its exquisite facial features that seemed to be screaming nobility.

Rumbling began to occur around us as the transparent red woman raised her hands. I watched with rapt attention while repeating the words she said and wrapping my head around them. Behind us, an area of a few miles was lit up as the uneven frozen ground was made visible.

A powerful force was compressing the earth as the jagged rocks evened out and the miles around us became flat surfaces. The clear voice that was now tinged with excitement rang out once again.

"I have a kingdom to focus on, so we will make this quick. An opportunity lies in front of you. In this Spiritual Land, you can undergo the Trial of Supremacy. If you are talented enough, rewards you cannot even imagine will be yours."

I tried to keep my breathing under control as I passed this ordeal and it seemed like my life was not under a threat for the time being. My thoughts moved rapidly as I asked,

"This trial that is normally meant for beasts, what rewards can you gain from it?"

"Oh? Well for starters, this Tier 2 Spiritual Land will guarantee the champion of the Trial of Supremacy a safe advancement to the LEGENDARY rank."

…!

I looked towards the evened out surface around us, and then at the EPIC beasts in the surroundings. I then asked the transparent red figure still floating in the skies.

"What is the first stage of the trial?"

"The first stage is to simply defeat an opponent of the same level during the trial. The trials after that...will have increased levels of difficulty. If you agree to take on the first stage and onward, you are staking your life and you cannot back out. Even if you are defeated you will have to remain and continue trying for years to come as your power grows. If it happens that you die...well, that's that."

My thoughts quickly moved at this new information and I replied before long, bringing the cold blade in my hands close to me as I spoke.

"When do we start?"

"Haha, I like that confidence! All the beasts here have tried and failed to pass the second level. It is simply too rare for a being with a powerful unique skill to be borne, so I have high hopes on you making my work here a success.."

At the wave of her hands, another rumbling ensued around us as a large golden door rose from the ground.

"This door will transfer you to the pocket in space where the trial will take place."

I looked to the golden door, and then to the menacing beasts that were giving me contemptuous looks all around. This was especially so for the cold Emperor Penguin that had its head raised high and looking down arrogantly. Its eyes turned into cold slits as its voice rang out beside my ear.

"A human has never before qualified for this trial, and there won't be one that passes it. Pray that among your opponents...you do not meet me."

The beasts backed away at the motioning of the transparent figure that I turned to and asked,

"What might be the identity of the one I've been speaking to all this time?"

The figure in the air stalled a bit as an elegant smile bloomed.

"My identity? You'll be worthy of finding out if you pass the trial successfully. Good luck, human."

The transparent red figure remained still in the air as I looked towards the golden door and moved forward. She held no aura, but I could still feel bells ringing in my head whenever she made a threat earlier. But this trial...I was looking forward to the surprise it would bring once I've cleared it successfully. Guaranteed advancement to the LEGENDARY rank? Haha, let's see what gifts you will be putting on my lap!

I moved without hesitation and placed my large incarnation's hand on the golden door, my figure disappearing soon after.