Truth Test

Kain stood in front of five towering stone doors. Each was adorned with a unique symbol, representing the five followers of the Demon King.

1. The Black Knight – A symbol of crossed great swords.

2. The Sealed Witch – A symbol of a closed eye with a magic circle around it.

3. The Thorn Rose – A symbol of a rose with sharp thorns on its petals.

4. The Predator – A symbol of fangs and claws gripping a fireball.

5. The Shadow King – A symbol of a crescent moon with a silhouette of a person standing in the middle.

Kain swallowed. Each of these doors must hold a different challenge.

He turned to Lazu. "God, won't you give me a hint?"

Lazu yawned lazily. "You get to choose. I'm just looking at how you think."

Kain growled softly. Of course. Lazu wanted him to learn.

He looked at the five symbols again. Each follower of the Demon King must have different strengths and trials.

• The Black Knight probably tests physical strength.

• The Sealed Witch might be full of magical puzzles.

The Thorny Rose might contain deadly traps.

The Predator sounds like something that will hunt them.

The Shadow King… mysterious.

Kain took a deep breath. He wasn't a strong fighter, so facing the Black Knight or the Predator might be a bad idea.

But he also didn't want to get caught in an endless maze or an impossible puzzle.

Finally, he raised his hand… and touched the door with the Sealed Witch symbol.

DING!

[Chosen Path: Sealed Witch]

[New Mission: Surpassing the Test of Truth]

The stone door began to tremble… then slowly opened, revealing a dark, winding hallway.

Kain swallowed. "Alright… let's go in."

Lazu grinned. "Interesting choice. Let's see if you can survive."

They stepped into the darkness. As the door closed behind them… whispers began to ring out all around.

"Do you really want to know the truth…?"

"Can you accept it…?"

Kain felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. This test had just begun.

As soon as Kain and Lazu stepped into the passageway, the stone door behind them slammed shut. The air suddenly became heavy, as if filled with something invisible.

Strange whispers continued to echo around them.

"Do you really want to know the truth…?"

"Can you accept it…?"

Kain bit his lip. "What is this sound?!"

Lazu remained calm, walking leisurely beside him. "This is a mental test. Don't let your head be played with."

Suddenly, purple light flashed around them, forming a large magic circle on the ground. From within the darkness, a cloaked figure with closed eyes emerged.

He hovered a few inches above the ground, his thin, long hands clasped together in front of his chest.

"Welcome to the Trial of Truth," he said in a deep voice that echoed throughout the room.

Kain swallowed. "What should I do?"

The man smiled faintly. "Simple. Answer my questions honestly."

Lazu chuckled. "Sounds easy, right?"

Kain snorted. "Yes, if it's a normal question."

The robed man slowly raised his hand.

"First… who are you really?"

Kain paused. Who was he really? An ordinary student caught in the gods' game? A warrior seeking survival? Or someone who doesn't even know his own purpose in life?

Lazu turned to him. "Don't think too complicatedly. Answer with your heart."

Kain took a deep breath.

"…I am someone trying to find my place in this world."

DING!

[Answer Accepted]

The robed man nodded. "Okay. Now… the second question."

He stepped forward, the aura around him becoming darker.

"What are you most afraid of?"

Kain was shocked. Fear?

He tried to think. Was he afraid of death? Afraid of failure? Or…

"…I am afraid of being useless," he finally answered.

DING!

[Answer Accepted]

Kain let out a sigh of relief. Two questions passed.

But the robed man smiled even wider. "The last question… the hardest one."

The room suddenly grew darker. The whispers grew louder, as if pressing on Kain's mind from every direction.

"Will you accept the truth… even if it destroys everything you believe in?"

Kain's heart raced.

What kind of truth was that?

He turned to Lazu, hoping for a clue, but the god only stared at him with a neutral expression.

Kain's answer would determine everything.

He clenched his fists, then…