Descending the canyon was effortless thanks to my skill.

As I reached the bottom, an unsettling darkness consumed the landscape, stretching endlessly before me.

With a flick of my wrist, a small fireball ignited above my palm, casting flickering light against the canyon walls.

The scene it revealed was anything but comforting—shadows danced eerily, and the howling wind carried a sound that eerily resembled the distant wails of tormented souls. It was the perfect setting for a horror film in my previous world.

But now was not the time for hesitation. Ignoring the eerie atmosphere, I pressed forward, venturing deeper into the canyon.

For an entire week, I navigated through the canyon, the journey made easier by the abundant food and water I had "acquired" from the hidden base.

To my surprise, I encountered no traps or obstacles along the way.

However, all of that paled in comparison to the sight that finally lay before me.

A colossal tree grew out of the canyon wall, its roots gripping the barren rock with an unnatural tenacity.

The tree itself was unremarkable, but its location was baffling.

There was no sunlight here, no soil—nothing that should have sustained life. The only explanation was mana.

This had to be the entrance to the trial ground.

Approaching cautiously, I realized the tree's roots emerged from a small cave, just large enough to fit three to five people at once.

I stepped inside, the firelight pushing back the oppressive darkness. The cave was narrow, its walls rough and jagged, as if clawed out by something ancient.

After walking for a while, I reached its end—and there, pulsating ominously, was a red portal.

In the novel, different portal colors held distinct meanings.

Blue: Teleportation Portal.

Black: A gateway to the Demon Realm.

Purple: A monster dungeon.

Gold: A passage to the Angelic Realm.

Red: A trial ground.

Seeing the crimson glow, I knew I had arrived at the right place.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward—but just as I was about to enter, a translucent screen materialized before me.

**

[Select difficulty. Please be cautious, as death is a real possibility.]

[Easy]

[Medium]

[Hell]

**

'This… wasn’t supposed to happen.'

My eyes widened as I stared at the glowing selection screen before me.

Nowhere in the novel had it mentioned a difficulty selection for the trial ground.

This wasn’t a minor detail—it was a major deviation from what I knew.

A small, uneasy feeling twisted in my gut.

Even more concerning, the criminal—the one who had taken the key and martial arts from this place—must have chosen medium difficulty at the very least.

Otherwise, it made no sense how he would have received a powerful martial art and a key to the hidden base.

'That meant… he had survived it.'

That thought sent a chill down my spine. If someone like him had only made it through medium, then what did that say about the higher difficulties?

I hesitated, my finger hovering over the options.

For a brief moment, doubt crept in.

'Did I really need to go this far? Medium would already give me an edge over most people, and hard would still put me in a league of my own.'

But then, I clenched my fists.

No.

I was stronger than him. Faster. Smarter. Better.

And in the end, the harder the challenge, the greater the rewards.

I took a deep breath, forcing all hesitation aside.

'If I wanted to stand above all others, I couldn’t settle. I had to go beyond.'

My decision became clear.

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With steady hands and unwavering resolve, I selected Hell.

**

[Are you sure you want to select {Hell} difficulty?]

[Yes]

[No]

**

I smirked.

‘Yes.’

The moment I confirmed my choice, an invisible force pulled me forward.

The world around me blurred—then vanished as I was swallowed into the abyss.

***

The scenery before my eyes shifted abruptly, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. My vision blurred for a split second, my senses disoriented—it was my first time entering a portal, after all.

But I didn’t let it overwhelm me.

Immediately, I activated , and the dizziness vanished just as quickly as it came.

A sharp breath escaped my lips as I steadied myself. That was unexpected.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing alone inside a massive colosseum.

The sheer size of it was breathtaking—towering stone walls surrounded the arena, stretching endlessly into the sky. The architecture was ancient yet pristine, giving the impression that this place had existed for centuries, untouched by time.

But something felt off.

There were no audience members, no distant murmurs, no shifting shadows in the stands.

There was no enemy either.

Just me.

The silence was unnerving.

I frowned, my fingers twitching instinctively toward my weapon. What kind of trial is this?

As if in response to my thoughts, a screen materialized before me, glowing faintly.

And then—

A voice echoed in my head, the same way my Status Window did.

**

[The First Trial Theme is to win 10 fights against the enemy of the same rank using just Zero magic]

[If Trialist uses a weapon he will be expelled from the Trial ground and will not be allowed another entry]

[Fight will start in 60 seconds]

[59]

[58]

[..]

**

After reading the message I didn’t knew if it was luck or what but Due to my legendary core, the power of my mana was 10 times the normal mana.

Thus, my Zero magic was comparable to the damage of First or Second circle magic.

If I compare a normal person’s mana-strengthened body to mine—where my mana is not only strengthened but also compressed by my Legendary Core—I have a clear advantage.

Against someone of the same rank, I would easily overpower them with sheer brute strength alone.

And if we take in account that I have 2 core I can become more powerful.

I guess even My luck is with me.

**

[..]

[3]

[2]

[1]

[Start]

**

Just as the countdown finished, 10 golems materialized before me, and a curse escaped my lips.

"F*ck, you never said I’d have to fight all of them at once!"

I immediately regretted complaining, realizing luck was definitely not on my side.

But despite the shock, I remained calm, the effect of the Rune of Stability keeping my mind steady. With a clear head, I activated my footwork.

Since arriving at the trial ground, I hadn't neglected my training.

Every day, I practiced under 10x gravity with the Bracelet, pushing my limits. Through sheer effort, I had somehow mastered the Circle Formation of the .

It wasn’t perfect—still rough and lacking in finesse—but it was enough to perform the unpredictable 3-Formation footwork.

Using light mana, my speed became blinding. I closed the distance between myself and the first golem, slamming a fireball into its face.

With each step, my movements were erratic, unpredictable to the golems. There was no pattern they could follow, no way to counter me unless they could read my mind.

One by one, I took them down. Each golem fell as I outmaneuvered and overpowered them.

When the last one collapsed, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of exhaustion. It was clear how much I’d grown since the beginning.

But then, to my surprise, the golems began regenerating. A realization hit me like a wave—I couldn’t kill them unless I destroyed their cores.

I quickly activated my skill, scanning the golems to pinpoint the locations of their cores.

**

Name: Golem

Type: Guardian

Effect: A magical or mechanical entity designed for combat, protection. Its strength and durability depend on its material and enchantments.

Weakness: Destroying the core will disable the golem instantly.

State: Focused on protecting his Heart

**

Although the skill didn’t directly show the core’s location, I could deduce it from the golem's state. Its core was likely located in its heart, a guess confirmed by the way it reacted.

After that the Fighting scene repeated itself, the only difference this time was that no golem regenerated.

I had successfully completed the task.

[Congratulations on Completing the First Trial]

[Moving to the location of second Trial]

Without warning, I was teleported, my surroundings changing against my will.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a small, ancient room made of stone, with various inscriptions lining the walls.

In front of me stood a statue of the Grim Reaper, hooded and holding a large scythe. It was an intimidating sight—grim, but undeniably a masterpiece.

Just as I was admiring the statue, the screen popped up again.

**

[The Second Trial Theme is to answer 3 questions Asked by the Grim Reaper correctly]

[If you fail to answer any Question You will Die]

[If you fight the grim reaper, you will be banished From the Trial, never to take the trial again]

**

“F*ck,” I muttered under my breath.

'Are these bastards trying to kil-

Before I could finish complaining, the Grim Reaper began to move.

He raised his scythe high, as though ready to swing if I answered even one question wrong. And the worst part? I couldn’t move my body, as if invisible chains were holding me in place.

As I struggled to move, the Reaper asked his first question:

{You stand before two doors. One leads forward, the other to certain doom. Two guardians stand before them: One always lies, one always tells the truth. You may ask one question to one guardian. What do you ask?}

I instantly recognized it—this was a classic riddle, one well known back on Earth.

I answered with confidence:

“The answer is simple. If I were to ask the other guardian which door leads to safety, what would they say?”

Then, I would simply choose the opposite door.

There was a long silence. The Reaper didn’t say anything for a while, before asking the next question:

{The faster you run, the harder it is to catch. The more you chase it, the farther it seems. What is it?}

Again, I knew the answer.

“Shadow.”

Finally, the Reaper asked his last question:

{Would you rather live as a king in a world of suffering or as a beggar in a world of peace?}

After thinking for a while, I let out a slow breath, my thoughts settling into clarity.

Without hesitation, I replied, "A beggar in a world of peace."

{WHY?}

“Choosing peace over power means prioritizing the well-being of others and fostering a world where suffering is minimized.

Living as a beggar in such a world allows for personal hardship, but the overall peace and absence of suffering would provide greater value in the long run.”

The Reaper fell silent, and after a moment, he spoke again:

{You Pass.}

[Congratulations on Completing the Second Trial]

[Moving to the Location of Last Trial]

Once again, I was teleported, prepared for whatever came next.

***