The Third Trial: The Heart
His aura erupted like a storm, swallowing the entire space in a suffocating wave of power. The air itself seemed to crack under its weight, trembling as if the world couldn't contain him.
At first, I could only stand frozen, my breath caught in my throat as that pressure pressed down on me. It felt like the universe had shifted its gaze onto me, and I was nothing but a fragile ant about to be crushed.
But he didn't stop.
The aura kept growing—deeper, darker, heavier—until it devoured everything around us. My chest constricted, each breath a struggle against the invisible weight pressing down on me.
And yet, through the awe and terror, something stirred deep in my core. A flicker. A faint, twisted thing clawing its way out of the shadows in my heart.
Desperation.
It sank its hooks into me, coiling tighter and tighter, refusing to let go.
The moment I thought his power had reached its peak, it swelled again, surging outward like a tidal wave. The Knight became something unrecognizable, a colossal being of raw force and murderous intent. He was no longer just a warrior—he was the embodiment of destruction itself.
My legs gave out. My knees slammed into the marble floor with a sharp crack, pain lancing up my body. My hands trembled violently as my grip on the katana loosened.
This… this wasn't a fight.
It was execution.
Even space seemed to buckle under his presence, warping and trembling like reality itself wanted to flee. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his blade.
My eyes locked on it, every instinct screaming at me to run, but there was nowhere to go. Even as my [Adaptive Learning] trait sparked faintly in the back of my mind, trying to process, to adjust, I knew.
This wasn't something I could counter.
This wasn't something mortal hands could overcome.
No… NO!
I won't end it here! Not like this!
A raw scream tore from my throat as I forced my body to move, muscles straining as if I was defying gravity itself. Blood seeped from my pores, dripping down my arms and splattering onto the floor. My lungs burned. My vision blurred, streaked with crimson as blood dripped into my eyes.
I raised my blade, forcing my shaking arms into a guard stance.
The Knight's blazing crimson eyes flared brighter.
And then—
For one fleeting instant, the world stopped.
Time froze. The suffocating aura. The trembling floor. The Knight poised to strike.
It all halted.
And in the next instant—everything was devoured by white.
I tried to fight it. Clawed against it with every shred of will left in my soul.
But I only held it off for the briefest fraction of a second.
I failed.
---
Swordsmanship: [D+] → [B-]
[You have overcome the Second Trial.]
[Congratulations.]
That was the last thing I heard before the white light swallowed me whole, and my consciousness slipped away.
---
[Initiating Third Trial]
[The Heart]
I woke up again.
At this point, even I was starting to grow tired of this endless cycle of waking in strange places.
This time, there was no battlefield. No opponent. No majestic scenery to lull me into false peace. Only an endless void. A space filled with crushing darkness, stretching on forever in every direction.
I stood still, waiting. Patient. Whatever this trial required, I was ready.
...But nothing happened.
Minutes—or hours—passed in suffocating silence.
Well, fine. My progress so far had been immense. If I needed to wait here to advance again, I didn't really mind.
[Initiating Third Trial: The Heart]
[Error]
[Error]
[A misplaced Heart detected]
...Eh?
What's going on?
Did this being finally realize… I'm not from this world?
[Calculating... Calculating...]
The silence stretched again, this time heavier, almost accusing.
Then—
[You have overcome the Third Trial.]
[Congratulations. You have blossomed the Heavens in your Heart.]
Huh?
Thank you…? I guess?
So… does this mean I beat the last trial? Just like that?
[Initiating Body Reformation...]
[Reconstructing based on the results of the trials...]
[First Trial: A+]
[Second Trial: SS-]
[Third Trial: ???]
I smirked. Not bad. Who would've thought I'd make it this far?
Yes. Me! That's who!
I barely had time to savor the victory before
—
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A mind-breaking pain ripped me from my thoughts.
It felt like my very soul was being torn apart and reforged, hammered in the fires of creation itself. My body convulsed, nerves screaming as if every fiber was being rewritten.
Time passed—or maybe it didn't. I couldn't tell anymore.
Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped.
I floated there in the void, trembling, grasping desperately for my scattered thoughts.
[You are now a part of Heaven.]
I barely had time to register the words before the familiar white light engulfed me.
And in the next instant, I found myself lying on soft grass, the sun high overhead, its warm rays spilling over me like a comforting embrace.
For a moment, I just stared at the sky in silence.
Then I groaned.
"What the hell! Never again. Never!"
I rolled onto my side, clutching my chest.
"I'm never, ever going to touch anything that randomly appears in front of me again. Nope. Lesson learned."
But I didn't linger.
Pushing myself off the grass, I stood up and stretched, twisting my body left and right to shake off the stiffness. My joints popped faintly, and for a brief moment, I half expected to feel something… different. Stronger. Transformed.
But no. Aside from the now-filthy plain clothes clinging to my skin, nothing seemed unusual.
Well, let's see.
I called up my Status screen, anticipation burning in my chest.
If all of this—the pain, the deaths, the trials—was worth it, I should see a massive leap forward. A chance at true survival.
───────────────────────────
Name: Mikael Thornevale
Age: 17
Rank: E-
Potential: { ??? }
Class: Hybrid
Physical Attributes:
– Strength: F+
– Agility: E
– Endurance: F+
– Mana: E-
– Perception: E+
Mental Attributes:
– Intelligence: B+
– Willpower: A+
– Charisma: A+
Traits:
– [Adaptive Learning]
– [A Piece of Heaven]
Skills:
– None
Combat Proficiency:
– Swordsmanship: Expert (B-)
– Elemental Affinity: Blood {Unique}
Manual:
– Blossom of Heaven: First Stage
Status: Twisted
───────────────────────────
I froze for a second.
Then a grin spread across my face, wide and unrestrained.
"Hahahaha! YES!"
Laughter spilled out of me, raw and triumphant.
"I did it! I actually did it! No more potential holding me back—YES!"
No longer chained down by a talent ceiling, no longer cursed to be mediocre in a world that demanded greatness. For the first time, I was standing at the same starting line as the main cast.
I had clawed my way here. Me.
The relief and joy bubbled up uncontrollably. It was hard—harder than anything I'd ever endured—but I survived.
My eyes scanned the rest of the status screen, noting the leaps and changes. My rank had jumped, enough to put me on par with others my age in the academy. Swordsmanship: Expert. A new Trait—"A Piece of Heaven". Even the Manual had finally appeared.
Those could wait for later.
But one thing made my smile falter for just a moment.
"Twisted…"
The word sat there, mocking me.
I frowned, flexing my fingers, clenching and unclenching my fists. I didn't feel… wrong. At least, I didn't think so.
Whatever. If there's a price, I'll pay it.
Turning, I glanced at the massive tree—its bark pristine white, glowing faintly as if it held the essence of light itself. For a moment, I reached my hand out to pat it.
Then I froze.
"…Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Not gonna make the same mistake twice."
I pulled my hand back with a laugh and fished out a bottle of water from my pocket ring, taking a long swig.
The cool liquid burned pleasantly down my throat, grounding me.
I tapped my VelTech watch, needing to check the time.
A digital screen flickered to life in front of me.
And then my stomach sank.
…Four months.
I'd been gone for four entire months.
"How the hell am I supposed to explain that?" I muttered.
If anyone even tried to… how would they? What would my family say?
[43 New Messages]
Oh?
So people did notice I was gone.
But first things first—I needed to get back. Back to the train station.
---