As much as I want to question the level limit, there is a more pressing matter. I am not even close to the altar but already I can see a little gray window in front of it.

Princess moves to the side and gestures for me to go forward. Her sneer is still present, and her distrust plain to see. I look at her. "Was the forest a test as well?"

Tis not our fault thou are unable to follow close to us. Thou hast brought the forest defenses upon thyselves. she dismiss my question with a wave.

"You could have waited for us, or at least warned your defenders." I counter.

Thou still came out on top in the end. It matters not in the end. Now show us that thou are who thou claims to be.

I hope our suffering were to your liking your majesty. Mewtwo adds as I make my way to the altar.

Why yes they were. Princess answers with a malicious glint in her eyes.

I grind my teeth in annoyance while the part of me that is Aster chuckles. Somehow princess has not changed. She still dislike those she considers strangers. And she still tricks and play with any that dare cross her way or endangers those she protects. That explains parts of her reaction. She has most of the forest under her control. She knows all that happens within its confines. She knows every pokemons here fear me. I sigh. Maybe coming here was not a good idea?

The zoroark steps next to the florges, bowing his head and then sitting down, a playful smile on his face. I continue to approach the altar. The floating grey window is bigger than any I have ever seen, almost the size of my torso. Mewtwo and I stop before it. Behind, the flaming bowl continue to hoover and turn. Together, we read what is written upon the window.

~ The magical forest Sanctuary ~

Owner: Aster Stradivii

Rank S

Commandments:

Woe upon he who dares to hurt the residents

You who wishes for protection, come forth and be welcome

Woe upon he who dare steal from the resident

A lesser burden for you who seek protection

Grand woes upon he who dares steal a resident

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

No heir selected

Takeover possible.

Takeover? Hum... That's not... I cannot finish my thoughs. A new screen pops to life, wit electric blue colors

Notice: Continuing patch deployment.

-Transferring ownership

New entity has reached the altar

Scanning...

Scanning...

Notice: Continuing patch deployment.

-Altar scan initiated...

-Please move closer to Altar structure

New entity has reached the altar

Scan complete.

Current owner signature detected.

/!\ Incomplete signature /!\

Notice: Continuing patch deployment.

-Scan completed

-Initializing full_soul.exe, please hold.

Multiple windows flash before me in quick succession. Some I manage to read, others I do not. Something is happening. I don't know what, but it is.

A distant rumble echoes above us, and we all look up. My eyes widen at what I behold. The sky... I cannot see the sky anymore, instead, a maelstrom of deep gray and red is slowly growing above our head.

What is this? Is this thy doing? Princess questions.

"I... Maybe? I"m not sure." I answer back.

The maelstrom keep growing. Bigger and bigger.

New entity has reached the altar

Entity deemed as dangerous.

Woe be upon you who threatens this Sanctuary.

Notice: Continuing patch deployment.

-Full_soul.exe failed...

-Executing admin_takeover.knlg...

-Please hold...

A hole opens in the center of the maelstrom. It opens to a strange black-green sky, filled with countless stars. A whine can be heard from within. And then a beam of sickening red light crashes upon the altar. The entire structure shudders upon being struck.

What hast thou done? Princess's psychic voice radiates horror and fear.

Before either Mewtwo or I can answer, a wall of blue mixed with yellow lines expands from the altar and engulf us both. I close my eyes on reflex and when I open them back the forest is gone. In its place is a circular arena, large enough to encompass the entire clearing. It is shaped as a dome, with both the wall and floor made of strange electric blue material lined with circuit like yellow-orange lines. The entire arena is empty except for us and the altar.

-[Greetings chosen ones. You have entered a special Trial overseen by both me, Knowledge, and Hunt]-

I blink in surprise. What?

Before I can start to even prepare an answer the altar starts to reform before us. The structure shudders, and the dark bricks that make it up slowly rearrange themselves into a humanoid form. The bowl tips forward and move to the top. After a few seconds, a massive five meter tall humanoid brick golem towers above us. It has short legs and long thick arms. Its torso is thick and it stand hunched forward.

-[This Trial will determine if you are able to inherit Aster's Sanctuary. Each Trials is different, however some rules will be constant.]-

I looke around in bewilderment. I recognize the cold voice as Knowledge, although there seems to be a difference compared to when Aster talked with them. If this is knowledge, he is nowhere to be seen. But I can feel his calculating gaze on me. A quick look to Mewtwo confirms that he also hears the voice and feel the god's presence as well.

-[Rule N°1: Death is a possibility. Some trials may be harmless, but others will be designed to test your survival. A death in a trial is final

Rule N°2: Before the start of each trials, you will be given two things. A description of the Trial you undertake along with objectives and rewards as well as the possibility for each of you to ask any of us overseeing this trial ONE question per overseer.

Rule N°3: A Trial can only be completed, or failed. You cannot leave until you either die or complete all objectives.]-

Knowledge finishes enunciating the rules. the altar golem has fully formed. The flame burning in the bowl, once blue, has now turned an abject gray, with a single bean shaped black pupil at its center. A roar escapes it and it takes one shuddering step forward. The entire arena tremble.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

A new screen appears, once more different from every previous ones.

Trial of Inheritance:

The peaceful attempt at making you the new owners of Aster's Sanctuary has failed. We apologize for it.

The Altar Guardian has been activated and will now attempt to crush you.

Goals: Defeat the Altar Guardian

Rewards: Full appropriation of the Sanctuary of the Magical Forest.

-[You may now ask a total of four questions. One from each of you to me, Knowledge, and the same for Hunt.]-

"Wait, why only one?" I blurt out before realizing my mistake. Shit that was a waste!

-[That is a restriction we were forced to agree upon. What was not agreed upon was how far we can take our answers. You may only ask a single question to each of us supervising you, but know that we each have our own preferred topics. Mine are all subjects related to gaining knowledge. Whatever its subject may be. Hunt will be able to grant you precises advices on hunting, but also caring for creatures of all sort. Chaos... will reveal his specificities himself. Ask your question User:Mewtwo.]-

Okay... They are playing with the rules as much as they can. Good to know. Now I only have one question for Hunt left.

Why us? Mewtwo asks, and I can only agree with it. It does not help our situation, but we both wish to know.

-[...]-

-[You were... convenient.]-

That's it?

That's it? Mewtwo echoes my though in outrage.

-[Your question has been answered User:Mewtwo. Now ask Hunt your questions.]-

<^{Hi~}^>

The new voice makes us jump. It radiates kindness yet seems to hide malice and murder beneath. With a single word Hunt has us both shuddering. Our outrage at Knowledge's dismissive answer is almost drowned under Hunt's presence.

What is our enemy's weakness? Mewtwo is the first to recover. And his question is one I would have asked if he had not.

<^{Oooh~ kitty is pretty to the point. So, I am sure little Astra can see the header and it was name dropped in the trial description, but you are fighting an Altar guardian. That one is ranked S, whatever that means. Numbers are easier, I'll give that to Knowledge. Now in terms of capability, that thing is slow, whatever its rank, but what is is not, is squishy. You might want to focus on its legs at first, then go for the kill. You only need to destroy the golem's heart to win, and I'll let you guess where it is. It's pretty obvious.}^>

That was... one comprehensive explanation. Mewtwo looks at me and he knows what I want to ask. It is a dumb question, but I am hoping for Hunt to go further than just a yes or a no. Mewtwo nods and I ask my question.

"Can we win?"

Laughter is my answer. Hysterical laughter echoes all around us. It last for some times before finally subsiding.

<^{Aahah...ahah... Ooh... After all you went through? You still ask such a question? That thing is far weaker than any other opponents you both have faced. The biggest problem? You both lack true control of your bodies current capabilities. I am not talking upgrades or levels up, I am talking body mastery. You both move like broken puppets. You should take some trials once you are done with this one. It will help you tremendously. Also you are both almost at your limits. Little kitty is barely holding on after traversing that fantastic forest, and you have burned through all your reserves. Still, yes you can win. but it will be harder than it has to be.}^>

-[All questions have been answered. The Trial will now commence.]- Knowledge's voice echoes once more

<^{Good hunting.}^>

And their presence are gone. Only the golem remains in the expanse of blue and orange. The golem screams once more. A small sphere of light gathers in front of its dark pupil and slowly grows. Before either Mewtwo or I can react, a beam of white light traverses the entire arena. It misses us only barely. A pulsing line of red now decorates the floor and part of the wall where the laser passed.

"That was not part of Hunt's description!"

I asked for weaknesses, not a full breakdown of that thing capabilities. Mewtwo retorts.

True. Well we are in for surprises then. Speaking of surprises, what's up with the floor-OH SHIT! Mewtwo and I both jump from the line left by the laser. Said line swells like a bubble only to detonates violently as the golem takes another step toward us. Yeah okay that thing is slow. "We need to get closer!" I call out to Mewtwo, hoping he can hear me after the explosion. I somehow suffer no consequences from standing so close to an explosion.

As the smoke from the explosion clears, I can see Mewtwo already gunning forward, floating close to the ground. He gives me a confident nod and I get up and start running toward our foe as well.

Bricks along the golem shoulders turn, revealing strange little symbols on them. The symbols illuminate for a second, and large fireballs come careening toward us. I jump out of the way of mine, while Mewtwo deflect the one aimed at him. They both explode the moment they touch the ground, but we have almost reached the golem.

Mewtwo summons a long purple psychic blade along his hand and I ready my left arm for a punch. the golem is too slow to react and both our strikes connect. The trunk sized leg I punch buckle under my fist, and bricks explode outward. I feel the punch reverberate along my arm. Steam escapes my arm as I can feel my auto repair kick into overdrive. A quick glance at the other leg reveals that Mewtwo has left a deep gouge in it. Both our attacks forces the golem to fall down on his knees. Its legs are now useless.

Okay yeah, I can see what Hunt meant with her laughter. That golem is wea- My world turns upside down as the floor rushes above me. My head is once more at a weird angle, why is it always my head? What even happened? I touche the ground, bouncing up with the momentum, before touching it again, and rolling for a few meters, finally stopping once I hit the wall. Shit. The golem has his eye on me, a new sphere of white light gathering before its dark pupil.

He just punched me away. I rescind my previous observation. That golem is not weak. It is slow, which is what Hunt said, but it is not weak. I can see Mewtwo is circling back for another strike. Before he can get too close however, beams of dark light erupts from the golem's back. Mewtwo is taken by surprise and most impact him. He falls down, his body covered in new darkened spots. Shit.

The ball of light in the golem eye has reached its full size and is about ready to be unleashed. I will my body to move, but nothing happens. What? fuck, my neck is fucked more than I though. What can I move? My head. I try to swing my head from side to side, trying to move even a little bit, but I remain where I landed. Okay not helping. I have maybe a second before the golem fires.

And that second passes, the beam of light rushes toward me, burning a new trail of red on the ground. I look on, desperately trying to move away, but I cannot. I grit my teeth, readying myself for the impact. Only for the beam to deviates right before reaching me. The golem's head has been turned slightly by a weak purple aura. I look at where Mewtwo is, Even from the distance, I can see his snarl. His right hand is extended before him, a flickering purple aura illuminating it.

Finally, I feel my body responding to my commands once more. I quickly get back on my feet. My movements feel sluggish, but it is better than being paralyzed. I rush back as the golem turns its head bak on me, Mewtwo's aura breaking with the movement. Another dark beam strikes Mewtwo and he cries out in pain.

No! I almost deviates, but I cannot. Even if I get him, I have no ways to get him to safety. There is no cover anywhere in the arena.

The previous trail of red detonates, the smoke obscuring my way forward. A fireball comes out of the smokescreen and I barely avoid it. More fireballs fly my way, and I dodge them, their explosion sometime almost destabilize me, but I endure forward.

I realize too late they were decoys. as the last one sails over me, I see the new white ball in front of the golem eye. I jump to the side as the beam strikes where I stand. The beam follows. Shit. I move right and left trying to avoid being hit, until I finally reach the relative safety of under the golem itself. Mewtwo is clearly down for the count, it's only me now. Still, his body rises up and down in sync with his breath, so I know he is still alive.

A quick check tells me I will soon run out of energy. Not good. What did Hunt say. We only have to have to destroy its heart to win, but where is the heart? What does it even looks like? She said it was pretty obvious... It's his head isn't it?

An arm the size of a truck barrels on me and I jump, landing on it as it passes me. I plant my legs and left arm in the dark bricks and manage to stay on it. What the fuck is a truck? Later! I dash forward, gunning for the head. The moment I reach the shoulder, I jump, ready to kick the golem's head, only to be propelled upward as the world turns white. A brick right under my feet turned, revealing a symbol that ignited into an explosion immediately.

Colors return and I can almost brush the blue ceiling of the arena. I blink as I stay there, weightless for a second, then gravity reassert itself. I am still right above the golem. The explosion sent me on a straight path, surprisingly.

What do I do now? Well... I am already falling, might as well make use of it. I have a second to reorient myself, but once I am done, I am barreling down straight toward the golem's head. A new ball of white light is gathering above it, and I know I will not be able to dodge it. Instead, I try to make sure I have as little drag as possible. Both my arms are raised above my head, my legs are extended before me, both feet joined together, talons touching each others. I am a spearhead descending from the heaven.

The light almost finish gathering when I reach the golem. With a mighty cry, I impact, barely missing the white sphere. My legs buck under the pressure, but I still manage to do what I aimed to. I pass straight through the bowl, destroying it and scattering the gray flame within. The Altar guardian stops moving, the ball of light disappears. I bounce on the floor once more and slide to a stop a few meters away from the golem. I cough up. Please be over.

Seconds passes with nothing happening. Then a brick falls. That singular brick is soon followed by another, then another and soon the entire brick humanoid breaks apart. Once the dust settle, only a pile of dark bricks remains of our foe. I shout in relief.

Trial of Inheritance:

Completed.

Messier than it could have been, still congratulation. The merge will now resume.

Notice: Continuing patch deployment.

-admin_takeover.knlg successful

-Designating new owner=User:Astra

-Designating new owner=User:Mewtwo

-Both users successfully added.

-Merging previous upgrades with new Sanctuary system interface... Done

-Preparing new interface... Done

-Preparing new Altar... Done

-Designing new upgrade system... Done

-Applying changes... Done

-Transferring full ownership... Done

-Deployment finished.

-Have a nice day-

End_Commands

The orange rimmed window remains after the blue one blinks out. I simply lay where I am, looking at the message and my energy slowly draining away. I cannot feel my legs. I look toward Mewtwo, but only see his tail from behind the pile of bricks. I hope he is alright. The arena starts to dissolve, and the clearing reappears around us. Not a single trace of our battle is visible. Somehow, I have ended up the over side of it. Mewtwo is next to the altar, and I can see Princess and the zoroark looking around wildly.

Princess' eyes lock onto mine and I feel her fury. WHAT HAS THOU DONE! HOW DARE THEE DESECRATE MY SAVIOR'S WORK!

Before I can answer, the entire altar shudders. Bricks start to float around, and soon, a new altar is built. The previous altar was a tall pyramid with four curves pillars going toward the floating bowl. the new altar is nothing like that. Three rings of bricks orbit on top of one another, each rings growing bigger the further up they go. Above them, three more rings turn around each others, forming a sphere withing which, three flames dance with each others. A dark red flame with blood red accents, a deep blue flame cyan lightning coursing through it and an orange flame with hints of purple at its edges looking like maws and talons. A new beam escapes the structure and hit something invisible above us. A wave of dark red, electric blue and bright orange wash over an invisible dome before disappearing. Princess and the zoroark look on in astonishment, before Princess returns her attention to me. In seconds she stand before me, and once more thorny vines pull me upward.

WHAT. HAS. THOU. DONE? Her fury crashes into my mind, and I shut down as my body enters power saving mode.