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Chapter 30: Second Trial Part 3

Champion Interface Basic Stats

Name: ??? Experience Points: 100/800. Level: 8. Mana Points: 80/80. Mana Recovery rate: 5 Mana Points per 12 hours. Race: Human. Class: Warrior. Affiliation: Follower of the goddess of the night!

Physical Stats Strength: 28. Agility: 27. Dexterity: 28. Endurance: 41. Toughness: 40.

Abnormal Stats

Composure: 30. Loyalty: 45. Leadership: 35. Divinity: 10.

Skills Survival [Level 2]. Hand-to-Hand Combat [Level 3]. Sword Mastery [Level 3]. Basic Divinity [Level 0]

Abilities Divine Blessing: With this ability, the warrior can call upon the power of his goddess to temporarily increase his Strength, Endurance, and Toughness by 15 points for 2 minutes. Divinity will drop by 1 point when Divine Blessing is activated. Battle Cry: There is a 20% chance of stunning your enemies when Battle Cry is activated, reducing their Composure, Perception, and Instincts stats by at least five points, and for five minutes. Your allies and subordinates will receive five points boost to their Composure, Perception, and Instinct stats for five minutes when Battle Cry is activated. Mana Points will decrease by 30 when Battle Cry is activated. Weapon Breaker - With this ability, the warrior can target an opponent's weapon, weakening it or even breaking it entirely, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Night Vision - Given his affiliation with the goddess of the night, this ability enhances the warrior's ability to see in low light conditions, giving him an advantage over his enemies. Leadership Aura - With this ability, the warrior exudes an aura of confidence and competence, inspiring those around him to fight harder and perform better. Steel Skin - This ability allows the warrior to temporarily harden his skin, making him more resistant to physical attacks for ten seconds. Mana Points will decrease by 30 points when Steel Skin is activated. Cleave: There’s a 10% chance of decapitating an enemy when Cleave is activated. Second Wind - When the warrior is nearing exhaustion, this ability allows him to tap into his reserves and push through the pain, restoring his stamina and giving him a burst of energy to continue the fight for another two minutes. Second Wind will automatically activate when the warrior’s stamina and health is low.

Tongue of All: You will understand every language, written and spoken, native or foreign to your world!

Quests

Main Quest – Survive the second trial – Ongoing! Side Quest – Gather one hundred and twenty beacons [58/120] – Ongoing! Side Quest – Gather information about a party comprising a human, feline, and undead – Ongoing! Side Quest – Assist fellow followers of the goddess of the night – Ongoing! Side Quest – Travel to the city of Night – Not Started! Side Quest - Defeat at least three parties participating in the Judgment Path [3/3] – Completed!

Scott furrowed his brow as he carefully read the system's message. This guy follows that goddess, but why the hell is she investigating us?

The swordsmen closed in on the group, their leader maintaining a steadfast position. He gestured to a group of men without weapons, prompting them to withdraw massive, intricate shields from their inventories.

“Who are you people?” Zara asked, cautiously scanning her surroundings.

Giovanni, the party's leader, shot a disdainful look at the feline brawler, his cold, deep-set eyes revealing his disgust. “You heathens have no right to know. Accept your judgment and be purged!”

With a swift motion, Giovanni raised his broadsword, his voice booming across the area. “Purge the heathens in the name of our goddess!”

“Purge them! Purge them! Purge them!” the swordsmen and shield bearers chanted in unison.

Imprint of Madness had foiled an attempt to use a mental related attack on you! Your enemies Composure, Perception, and Instincts stats has gone up by 5 points!

Giovanni furrowed his brow, observing that his battle cry had left none of the trio visibly affected. Despite this initial disappointment, his dismay was short-lived. With a deliberate motion, he lowered the broadsword, and in that moment, a golden radiance enveloped the man's body, while the mist surrounding them billowed with an otherworldly energy.

Your enemies have used Divine Blessing! Your enemies’ strength, endurance, and toughness stats has increased by 15 points!

Giovanni's body emanated a golden radiance, enveloping both himself and his underlings. He extended the sword's tip towards Scott, declaring, “Now, you die!”

“You talk too much,” Scott retorted, a low guttural roar escaping his lips.

Imprint of Madness has been activated across all bearers!

The dark tendrils that enshrouded the beacon on Slim and Zara's hands unfurled gradually, creeping along their arms, and infusing the duo with a visceral, maddening energy. Malevolent glee flickered in their eyes as shadowy wisps amassed above the trio. Slim's laughter echoed through the air, accompanied by the unsettling creaks of his expanding frame. With each step forward, his stature grew, the crimson mist within his vacant eye sockets swirling and succumbing to a profound shade of corrupted purple.

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“Ossie, Rattlebones. Come out,” the necromancer's ghoulish voice echoed, and skeletons burst forth from the ground, assuming combat stances. The black mass swirling over the necromancer's head transformed into two massive death bolts, voraciously absorbing the surrounding death energy.

Meanwhile, Zara stood poised, her body swaying gently from side to side. Scott's maddened screams subsided, and his trembling eyes shifted to Giovanni. Without hesitation, he leaped. Zara swiftly raised her leg, connecting with the masked man's boots, propelling him toward the bewildered warrior ahead.

“Shield bearers!” Giovanni shouted, snapping his stunned men out of their stupor.

The disciplined soldiers anchored their golden shields in the earth, slightly leaning forward. “You will perish here, heathen! Not even your heretical methods can save you!” Giovanni declared, shifting into a sword stance.

In a flash, Scott reached the shield bearers, his grip tightened around the war hammer. Just moments before the impending clash, the swirling death bolt reached its zenith, and Slim's bone-chilling voice echoed once more. “Annihilate them!”

Ossie and Rattlebone surged towards the nearest swordsmen, delivering a relentless onslaught of fists and kicks. Simultaneously, the death energy-enhanced attack streaked toward the shield bearers, darting past Scott in the blink of an eye. A thunderous roar erupted from the feline brawler just before she rocketed towards the closest swordsman with a velocity that defied conventional belief.

In that fleeting moment, Giovanni realized he had committed one of the gravest errors of his life. The goddess had only assigned them the task of gathering information, yet his zealous commitment had driven him to engage the group aggressively. Unperturbed by his mistake, Giovanni shifted his focus to Scott, slowly lifting his sword as he took measured, deep breaths.

A deathly bolt struck the shield bearers, causing the men to shudder as golden radiance clashed with the ominous darkness. “O goddess of the night, bless us so that we may withstand this trial!” the men roared in unison.

“Enough!” Scott screamed, his voice cutting through the chaotic din. With a fierce swing of his bloodthirsty war hammer, it collided against the golden shields. A resounding crack echoed, followed by an ear-deafening explosion that sent the gallant men hurtling in all directions. Blood trickled from their mouths, limbs mangled, and shattered shields scattered as if at the whims of the wind.

Giovanni roared, materializing above Scott in a flash. “Perish, you heretic!”

Scott lifted the war hammer to intercept the oncoming swing of the frenzied warrior's broadsword. A derisive grin curled the lips of the adversary, confident in his ability to shatter Scott's nefarious weapon. “Watch me demolish that insidious piece of yours,” he roared, unleashing the full force of his prowess as he brought the weapon down.

Bulging muscles tore through the latches of his leather armor and the brown vest beneath, while thick veins contorted the warrior's face. The clash of both weapons echoed, and the silver broadsword's tip soared into the air. It left a small cut on Giovanni's cheek as it sailed behind the momentarily stunned warrior.

How can this be? This is a rare-ranked weapon bequeathed by the goddess herself. How can it be broken by a mere infidel? This shouldn’t be possi—huh?

Giovanni noticed a boot closing in from the side, yet the masked madman continued to hound the warrior.

“Do you think I'll go down like this? Keep dreaming!”

Giovanni's muscles bulged, thick veins distorting his handsome face, bloodshot eyes trembling. With a tremendous effort, he managed to shake off the maniacal eldritch knight. However, as he created enough space, Zara's feet landed squarely on his chest. The warrior was sent flying in the opposite direction, rolling along the ground before halting himself by embedding the broken broadsword into the earth.

That kick would have collapsed my lungs if I hadn’t anticipated it. I won’t let these lunatics best me. Giovanni forced himself to his feet with a puff, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood.

Wiping his bloodstained lips with his left hand, he tightened his grip on the broken sword with his right. His gaze remained fixed on Zara and Scott, standing side by side, seemingly possessed by demons from the farthest reaches of hell.

Giovanni shifted his attention to his subordinates, only to find them sprawled on the ground, inscribing incoherent words while foaming at the mouth, their flesh decaying before his eyes. What kind of monster is this? he wondered, locking eyes with Slim, who reveled in wild laughter while crushing the skulls of the incapacitated champions.

From opposite sides of the warrior, Ossie and Rattlebone emerged, their brass-knuckled fists closing in on his jaw and midsection.

Even mere summons think they can defeat me. Nonsense! Giovanni dodged the attack of the suave skeletons, while using the pummel of the broadsword to smash Ossie’s skull. Then, he shifted his body to the side, his muscles tightening as a blow landed on Rathhlebone’s skull, smashing it on impact.

The summons disappeared in a flash; However, Zara raised her index finger, taunting the man to approach her.

“I'll slay you, creature!” Giovanni roared, charging headlong at Zara. On his fifth step, five hands erupted from the earth, and Ossie, along with the other summons of Slim, ambushed the enraged believer. With a flurry of fists and kicks, they unleashed an onslaught on the warrior. They fought with a unique blend of traditional boxing, kickboxing, and the style of old-fashioned gangsters.

Giovanni, however, skillfully shifted his body from side to side, deftly weaving through the charismatic skeletons' attacks. Despite a few well-aimed fists landing on his jaw and ribs, Giovanni remained steadfast, refusing to be knocked off his feet.

Giovanni bellowed defiantly, lifting his sword with a determined force. Rattlebone and Ivory charged towards the menacing blade, undeterred by its shattered state. Simultaneously, Ossie, Marrow, and Necrobone launched an assault from the rear and flanks.

With the strength of his bulging muscles, Giovanni swung the broadsword, cleaving the oncoming skeletons in twain. Swiftly twisting his body to the side, he deftly evaded the attacks from Marrow and Necrobone. The relentless warrior then unleashed a barrage, swinging both arms furiously and smashing his elbows against the skulls of the summoned entities. Seizing Ossie by the neck, he squeezed tightly despite the skeleton's fists battering his face. A resonant crack echoed, and like the others before it, the skeleton vanished.

“You're next!” Giovanni's roar reverberated as he spun around, only to find his pupils dilating in shock as Zara's boots hovered inches from his face. The realization hit him: they were fighting without honor.

With no time to dodge or counterattack, Giovanni clenched his teeth and readjusted his body, bracing for impact. Mentally activating Steel Skin, Zara's boots connected with the man's face, shattering his nose, and sending him flying several feet backward.

As Giovanni soared through the air, a determination burned within him. I will counterattack once I land on the ground! Even if this is where I meet my end, I'll make sure to take one of them with me, he thought grimly.

At that very moment, an unsettling chill raced down his spine, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of existential dread that clutched at his mind. Panic surged as he scanned the area—where had the masked figure disappeared to? Scott was nowhere in sight. Before he could even turn his head, a powerful blow descended upon the man's neck, shattering it like a twig. Giovanni, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events, lost his grip on his weapon, and the radiant golden glow surrounding him slowly faded away. He lay sprawled on the ground, head lolling to the side, tongue protruding from his mouth.

Standing tall over the fallen warrior, Scott paid little attention to his vanquished foe or the flurry of system notifications. Instead, his gaze quivered as it fixated on the path ahead, drawing the attention of Slim and Zara.

Amid the haunting silence, faint footsteps resonated, revealing the presence of a party comprising fifteen figures. Their hisses filled the air, and forked tongues snaked out from their mouths. Sporting rough, pale-brown, athletic upper bodies, these creatures wore baggy jute pants but no shoes. Scaled tails wriggled behind their pants as the lizard-like beings approached with cautious steps.

The crimson eyes of the lizardmen darted between the surrounding beacons and the trio who stood over the corpse-laden field. They halted a few feet away, the tallest among the procession stepping forward.

“You've had quite the harvest,” he hissed, fingers reaching for the daggers secured around his jute pants. “There are only three of you and fifteen of us. I'm sure you won't mind sharing the beacons, right?”

One by one, the lizardmen unsheathed their daggers, avarice clouding their crimson eyes. “We'll help ourselves, but we'll leave enough for you three,” the leader hissed again, motioning toward his companions.

Lightning crackled from the skies before any of the lizardmen could react. They raised their heads, countenances darkening. Without uttering another word, the group fled with the swiftest speed they could muster.

Scott, Zara, and Slim raised their heads, fixing their gaze on the figure in white descending on a series of floating discs that rearranged themselves in midair like a moving staircase.

“You're the one who's been calling me. You should have the answer I seek. Please, tell me the cure for this madness.”