Third Trial

Faust appeared before a colossal mountain that pierced the clouds. He was standing on grassy ground, and the sky above was a lively blue.

His vision remained focused on the mountain until a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Reach the top of the Tearing Mountain."

He kept silent for a while, thinking, What? That's all this voice is going to say? I mean, I think that's enough, but it said so little compared to before.

Turning around, he saw one person barely holding back their laughter, while another wore a serious expression.

The serious one was a man in his thirties, with slicked-back brown hair and a thin, pale body; he looked sickly. His green, triangular eyes resembled those of a snake, and in his scarred hands, he carefully examined a steel cutlass.

As for the one holding back laughter—it was the slave.

When he noticed Faust turning around, the slave shouted toward him, who was already wary of the snake-like man.

"So, boy, come and sit here with us. We're waiting for more people to complete this trial together."

Faust stood still. He wouldn't approach unknown individuals so carelessly. He hadn't feared doing so with the slave because he had been shackled… though, he had survived longer than many unshackled competitors.

"What is this trial about?" Faust asked.

The slave stayed quiet for a few seconds, then said,

"Since we're already here, I don't think you'll try anything funny now, so I'll tell you. This mountain makes you feel, that's all."

"Feel?" Faust asked, not understanding what the slave meant.

"Yes, feel. According to this fellow, it makes you experience emotions, like fear, happiness, or whatever else. He said going alone is—"

The snake-like man interrupted, his deep voice cutting through the air.

"Going alone is dangerous. If there are more people, the 'feeling' is shared and weakened among everyone close. If you go alone, the effect is much stronger, so people prefer to go in teams. You should wait here with us, for at least two more people. It shouldn't take long."

The man's eyes glinted as he grinned and added,

"Don't worry, young man, I don't bite."

At that moment, a few thoughts raced through Faust's mind.

So that's why people teamed up… makes sense now. But why is that guy alone then?"

Suspicious, Faust decided to ask,

"Why are you alone?"

"Because I had no reason to team up in the earlier trials, just in this one. Same as you, I guess. I remember you from the first trial. You were alone, weren't you?"

Faust remained silent. Though his face was expressionless, he was not very good at lying.

"Anyway, we should wait for a few more people so we can pass this trial more easily. As far as I know, there are no monsters or enemies here, so relax."

The slave looked nervously between the two, sensing the heavy tension. From the little he had spoken with Faust, he knew... he could be stubborn.

"Alright."

Unexpectedly, Faust agreed, though something else lingered on his mind.

I have no reason to kill that guy… but could I even do it if I tried? I feel like he's hiding something. The two trials before this one had hidden aspects too. In the first trial, they didn't disclose the exact number of kills needed for each evaluation, and in the second, more fruits appeared after someone died.

This trial must have a hidden aspect as well, just like the other two.

In any case, I have one chance to return. I should use it if I'm in a bad situation… but until now, things have gone surprisingly well.

I can't deny I'm being lucky. I hadn't expected to get that fruit, but everything felt so... in place. I'll think about that later. For now, I have to focus on this trial. Should we really just wait? If that guy knows the efficient number of people, then maybe he knows even more than the slave. I should try asking him… though he doesn't seem dumb. He probably won't answer.

Faust approached the two men sitting on the ground but kept a safe distance and stayed on guard.

As Faust and the snake-eyed man locked eyes, the slave felt the heavy atmosphere getting even heavier and quickly tried to break it.

"Ahem… should we introduce ourselves? I didn't ask your names yet… I don't have one, but people call me 'Jig.' What about you two?"

The snake-eyed man looked at him seriously before cracking a smile.

"Haha, chill, both of you. You two can call me Snake, that's what most people call me anyway."

How fitting…

Both Jig and Faust thought at the same time.

I don't think I can lie to him. There's a high chance he remembers my name and just wants to see if I'll tell the truth. Maybe saying he remembers me from the first trial was a test.

Faust decided to be straightforward.

"I'm Faust," he said plainly.

All of them kept quiet for a long and awkward while, before Snake asked,

"So you two were lied to, right?"

Jig looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that the slaves were supposed to be freed after surviving the first trial, but considering you two are here and still in shackles, that doesn't seem to be true. Why don't you just remove it already?"

"I can't," said the slave, then after a moment of silence, he added, "First, that I'm not strong enough to do it, and even if I did, once I got out there and returned to the camp, they would just lock me up again… that's why I decided to stay."

Faust observed him with a puzzled look, and so did Snake.

"I mean, I'd rather at least try. I already passed the second trial anyway… Also, thanks for the fruit, Faust." His eyes seemed more alive than when Faust first found him.

"Now, if I could ask something, Faust, what camp are you at?"

"…"

Faust kept quiet, as he had no reason to answer, and he wouldn't reveal his base location outside the trials. According to what Jig had said until now, he was staying at the main adventurer camp base. Since he knew no other bases or their names, he remained silent.

Jig looked at him for a while before sighing and giving up on getting an answer. Then, they kept waiting.

Eventually, two fog-eggs suddenly appeared near the mountain's base, and as the mist began to dissipate, two more figures emerged.

A blonde man, his eyes light blue and face pretty, almost feminine. He was tall but thin, holding no apparent weapons, and wore a long blue robe that covered most of his body. He introduced himself; his name was Cloud. Beside him, a familiar face appeared—Arien.

She was around the same age as Faust, but much prettier.

Faust could be considered above average in appearance, but not someone people would look at for long.

She, on the other hand, was someone like that. Her skin was white, her pitch-black hair short, standing just a little above her shoulders. Her eyes were like the abyss. Her face had sharp features but was also cute at the same time.

The clothing she wore merged well with the dagger at her waist—a tight black shirt and pants that didn't limit her movements, an attire made for combat.

She looked at Faust and instantly recognized him. She touched the dagger at her waist as Faust tightened his grip on his sword.

"Hehe, hello again, Faust," she said with a smile. She clearly remembered him from the first trial, as he hadn't said his name again… not after she arrived at least.

"Hello…"

"Alright, children, you should do this later. Soon, more people will come," Snake said, looking at Faust and Arien as he stepped ahead and took the lead. "Let's pick up our steps and proceed to the next trial."

Everyone agreed with him, and so, the newly formed group started to climb the mountain.