Tepo and Varei sat on the ground, huffing as they watched an opening in the wall swallow up the guardian.

“Well done!”

With a simple praise, Varei’s chest immediately inflated.

“Thank you!

You weren’t bad as well… for a human.”

Tepo smiled wryly as he inspected his own body.

“In the end I got injured a lot. But still, we beat an ascendant!”

“Right!”

The two warriors hyped each other up, although they knew in the back of their minds that they would have never won in any other setting.

Even so, using the forbidden spell drained their forces and left them exhausted. The testing ground generously healed their bodies, but nothing more.

Tepo thought about recovering a bit, but he noticed Varei fidget in place. He could already guess what was going on in the little spirit’s mind.

“Do you want to go and choose a forbidden spell?”

Immediately Varei’s eyes lit up, almost illuminating the dark hall.

“Yes!”

With a smile Tepo dragged his tired body up.

“Then let’s go.”

Varei excitedly flapped his wings, leading the way. At some point the gate originally protected by the guardian had opened soundlessly.

It led to another vast, dark hall. With black flooring and walls, it was difficult to gauge its edges.

Barely discernible statues stood scattered throughout the room, a few of them illuminated and carrying different materials.

Even some beasts could be seen sleeping at the feet of some statues.

A solemn, cold atmosphere engulfed Tepo and Varei as they stepped forward. They carefully studied the statues but to Tepo’s surprise those didn’t carry the names of any heroes.

However, Varei only had eyes for the forbidden spells, rapidly approaching a statue holding a large, thorny bush within its hand.

For a moment the little spirit didn’t find any introduction to the spell, but suddenly a deep voice came from the statue’s mouth:

“Ahhh, Juxaris, the legendary plant.

Only growing every thousand years, leaving the myriad worlds in tears. Its beauty during bloom, unparalleled, with thorns, never wishing to be held.

Still sought out by countless lives, as everyone stives, to taste the forbidden fruit, manipulating their enemies’ mood.”

As the voice echoed in the dark room, red particles of light separated from the statue, forming pictures in the air.

They showed a majestic snow-capped mountain peak. At the very top a single thorny bush was growing up. Countless warriors suddenly stormed the mountain with bloodshot eyes, focused on the juxaris.

Finally, the bush bloomed, gorgeous petals in red and pink swaying in the wind.

Suddenly the warriors all seemed crazy. They began to laugh happily one moment and cried bitterly the next.

Abruptly the scene changed, depicting an old man facing an entire army alone. He solemnly rose his hand, a storm of red and pink petals suddenly filling the battlefield.

The army turned crazy, beginning to laugh and cry together, some lazily sitting on the ground, others bashing their comrades’ heads in in rage.

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The scene changed one last time showing the old man attending a grand wedding. He even led the bride to the altar, but his face remained completely emotionless.

Tepo shivered as he watched the eerie scene. Obviously, the forbidden spell’s side effect was something like getting rid of emotions.

Varei however jumped in excitement:

“Such a strong spell! Have you seen how the old man blocked an entire army by himself?! I want it!”

Tepo watched the little spirit, who almost drooled.

“Haven’t you seen the last image? Do you want to become an emotionless robot?”

“It’s alright. Every forbidden spell has side effects. We just need to find some spell to mitigate it.”

Tepo didn’t know how to refute. Varei was technically correct, but some side effects are still easier to suppress than others, right?

This truth was already experienced firsthand by Tepo. Standing in the darkness, he felt ugly shadows rare their heads from time to time in all corners.

He had to actively guide some more force to his [God's Soul] to drive away these demons haunting his mind.

With his force already running dry and his passive absorption barely covering his expenses, Tepo was in a hurry. Thus, he hastily urged Varei to take a look at all the spells.

The little spirit was annoyed, but as Tepo explained his situation Varei reluctantly complied.

Thus, the duo went from statue to statue, quickly listening to the introductions of a dozen forbidden spells.

Tepo couldn’t help but marvel, wondering if other organizations had this much forbidden spells as well. And this was only a single branch!

He didn’t understand where the forum got their resources from.

Do they even have any exploration teams? This can’t be only the work of students, right?

While Tepo’s thoughts were straying from the topic, Varei was entirely focused on the forbidden spells.

Durgin every introduction he would listen with sharp ears and reluctantly trod away when they were over. Only to repeat his actions in front of the next statue.

Like this the duo quickly went through the forbidden spells. Varei found it hard to choose and even Tepo couldn’t deny that each forbidden spell was powerful in their own right.

But towards the end they came across a spell delighting them both.

“Raunarum.

You, who forces souls to battle, waiting for the dust to settle, only one can live, someone has their life to give!”

From the introduction Tepo and Varei understood what the forbidden spell was all about. It had the ability to force a battle between souls with its own rules.

Since the spell would construct its own domain, which could protect everyone’s bodies, it didn’t sound too impressive.

But the big advantage was that the side effects were minimal. It only leaves one’s soul in a weakened state after each usage, but this wasn’t too much of a problem since forbidden spells were meant to be final trump cards anyways.

Varei was extremely eager. As a noble dragon spirit his soul was stronger than most others from birth, a soul battlefield basically his home ground.

“This is it, Tepo! Take this one!”

“Yes. I think so, too.”

With the decision made Tepo didn’t hesitate any longer. He stepped forward and took a strange soft ball from the statue’s hands.

Immediately he felt an unpleasant sensation as if something was pulling on his soul. Fortunately, the material wasn’t provided with much force right now or Tepo would’ve been in danger.

His hand trembling the young man hastily put the raunarum in his storage bag.

Suddenly a deep voice sounded again.

“You have made your choice! Now leave!”

Thud!

With a low sound the various lights shining on the statues went out. Colorful particles floated down, building a line from Tepo’s position to the exit.

The two warriors decided not to overstay their welcome and quickly followed the path outside.

A few seconds later they were back in the forest. Although they still felt exhausted, they had smiles on their faces, satisfied with their harvest.

Especially Varei couldn’t suppress his excitement, eager to engrave his own forbidden spell. Thus, it was now him who hurried Tepo to leave and find a place where they were undisturbed.

Naturally Tepo didn’t have any reason to stay in the storage any longer. He left the forest, going back to the dungeon portal.

But suddenly he frowned as he spotted a person in the distance. Varei flinched, immediately going in [Spirit Form] and hiding.

“Still here, hm?!”

An unfriendly voice greeted Tepo.

“Are you waiting for me, Corian?”

“Tzz. Is my name something you can speak? I’m young master Gold for you!”

“Hmm? How humble. Why not let me call you Lord Gold?”

“B*stard.”

Corian indeed liked the sound on the name ‘Lord Gold’, but he didn’t dare to let anyone call him that. Wouldn’t he offend every real Domain Lord and World Lord?

Seeing how quickly the aristocrat was agitated, Tepo could only shake his head while passing by him.

“Hey! Did I allow you to leave?!”

“What do you want?”

“Which storage did you enter?”

“Why would I tell you?”

“Tzz. From your appearance you probably didn’t make it past the guardian! A beggar like you doesn’t belong in the forum, especially not in this dungeon.

Let me tell you: I will get a forbidden spell today!

Because only with a forbidden spell can you call yourself a real warrior!”

Tepo gritted his teeth as he listened to the grating voice. But he knew that Corian was only an immature brat, not worth his time.

However, Tepo’s lack of reaction incensed the young master. Suddenly he pulled out a pistol.

Bang!

A bullet shot through the air. Tepo was caught by surprise, his reaction slow.

But fortunately, nothing could happen as a green barrier suddenly formed in midair, easily stopping the attack.

But this action properly angered Tepo. He turned around, staring at Corian with the chilling eyes of a seasoned soldier.

“Have you gone crazy?! You know that attacking is prohibited here!”

“Ha! What? Pissed your pants?! You have been avoiding everyone for over a month. I say you are a scared little loser. If you don’t have the heart of a warrior, why not go home and cry to your mother?!”