Passing back through the black shroud, Sans and Elsie found themselves returned to the Trial of Water. Compared to the lush and vibrant ocean floor from earlier, the trial room seemed much more tame, more dull.

“Hmm? Where did all the people go?”

Sans squinted his eyes in confusion. It was only just a small passage in time, and yet there was no one remaining in the trial of water—save for a single lone dot in the distance.

“Stepping through the black wall is more costly than you think. Due to certain floor restrictions, that single step takes a handful of hours to complete.”

Elsie commented as she began walking back to shore.

“Hours?!”

Sans was flabbergasted at the drastic loss in time.

“That’s right. Oh, and that’s only going one way. Since we went through it twice…”

She waved her hand horizontally as if to display the emptiness of the trial ground.

“I see. Also, where did all the pressure from before go?”

Sans jumped up and down, completely free from any restrictions that once bound him.

“We got the reward, didn’t we? The trial no longer needs to test us.”

Elsie revealed the sapphire gem in her hand, lightly tossing it into the air before catching it and stowing it away.

“I guess that makes sense.”

Sans revealed a mischievous grin and silently caught up to Elsie.

“Well…”

His voice lingered lightly.

“To the exit… Get ready-set-go!”

Almost as if they were completely in sync, both of them shot off into the distance once more. Due to the absence of the trial’s pressure, their speed was countless times faster than before!

Aggravated waves rocked behind them as they picked up the pace. Neither of their feet penetrated the water as they sprinted above it like solid ground. Ripples turned into shockwaves as they zipped through the air.

Can I win?

Sans glanced to the side, comparing his speed with Elsie’s.

I can win! …maybe.

The distance to the island shrank with every second, but for some reason, Sans came to an abrupt stop. Elsie sped on ahead regardless, easily reaching the island in first place.

“Why is he here?”

Sans stared at a figure that remained 25 steps away from the shoreline. Closing the distance, he frowned upon getting a better look.

“Talru?”

On his hands and knees, the hunk of muscle refused to budge from his spot. It was unknown how long he had been there, but seeing as the other trial takers had all left—it couldn’t have been for a short time.

Standing in front of Talru, Sans stared at him from above.

“Talru, what are you doing?”

“Huh, oh. It’s you. Hey Sans.”

Talru tried to straighten his back and lift himself off the floor but was immediately flattened onto his hands and knees.

“You see, I said I wouldn’t leave this trial if I couldn’t surpass Meysi.”

Sans raised his brow as a certain realization hit him.

“Talru… Meysi walked to 54 steps. Are you still trying to compete with that?”

Talru let out a dark chuckle and shook his head.

“You’re wrong.”

“Wrong about what?”

Sans kneeled onto one knee in front of the man, resting his weight on his leg.

“Meysi eventually walked to 78 steps. She did it after you and Elsie disappeared. I’ve misunderstood you two this whole time. I think we belong in different worlds…”

Talru’s voice was hollow, as if he had received some sort of awareness that had eluded him his entire life.

“Sans… I’m a simple man. I can see that I cause them trouble. I’m not strong, and I try to make up for it.”

Sans deepened his gaze and listened patiently.

“This trial has shown me that this is where my path to glory ends. Perhaps it’s best for me to part ways with them. This would be a good time, before I hold them back forever.”

“Talru, listen to me.”

Sans placed a hand on the man’s shoulder.

“This trial does not test the strength of your muscles or magic. It tests your mettle.”

He thumped his fist on his chest.

“It tests what’s inside here. Tell me, Talru. Is this how much you’re worth?”

With his last piece said, Sans stood up and walked away, joining Elsie on the island. Elsie stood by the swirling vortex that led to the next trial. Her arms crossed over her chest as she smiled at Sans.

“That sounds oddly familiar. Aren’t you going to help him out some more?”

“Hmpf. You think too little of us men…”

Sans retorted before walking into vortex. Elsie followed soon after, leaving a single figure in the otherwise empty cavern.

However, if either had stayed just a few seconds longer, they would have witnessed that lone man stand tall—and take another shaky step forward.

----

Sans froze in place as he eyes adjusted to the bright lights that flashed above him.

A subtle rhythmic boom could be faintly heard, but there was no source for the beat within the small circular room. There was no exit or entrance, just the ancient stone blocks that made up the surrounding wall like the bottom of a forgotten well.

“This is the Trial of Man?”

Sans mumbled as he ran his hand across the coarse stone.

“Welcome! Adventurer! Can you defeat yourself? A battle of wit and will awaits. With each grade your clone will improve drastically, bringing forth a greater percentage of your potential. Let us determine the grade of your clone and your arena!”

A man’s deep and booming voice flooded the room, causing Sans to look around in alarm. Before him, a rectangular image appeared from thin air. As soon as the image appeared, the sound of cheers and shouts of a massive crowd emanated from it.

“Is that a colosseum?”

Sans inspected the lively screen and the deep voice spoke once more.

“Testing your mettle! D rank! Passed!”

The colosseum within the picture was pushed aside, replaced with a vibrant cliff that overlooked the vast sea. At the edge of the cliff was an ornate and rectangular stage. The crash of violent waves poured out from the image.

“At 30 steps, C rank! Passed!”

The cliff within the picture dropped down, and in its place was a lonely mountain surrounded by clouds. At the peak of the mountain was a simple square stage that was decorated with beautiful flora. An eagle’s cry echoed out from the image.

“At 50 steps, B rank! Passed!”

The mountain was cast away, replaced with a magnificent tree. Its diameter spanned the width of an entire city, while the height of its canopy made the clouds below look like a scattering of foamy puddles. Within the center of the tree was a hollowed space, where torches circled around an enormous and flattened pit.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Wow… an arena within a tree?”

“At 100 steps, A rank! Passed!”

The image of the tree melted away, and a colossal whale-type creature took its place. The whale soared through the sky at a height that would have made the previous tree seem like a sapling. On the beast’s back, a long string of red rope was fastened into the shape of a circle.

“At 500 steps, S rank! Passed!”

Sans’ heartbeat quickened as he watched the whale shimmer away.

S rank is only 500 steps? Does that mean normal people can achieve 500 steps? Or is that unrealistic? Then what about 1700 steps?

“At 1700 steps… Good luck.”

The deep voice faded and the bright light above dimmed. Thin beams of emerald light rotated around Sans as the faint rhythmic boom increased in volume.

A flash blinded the boy, while the space around him warped and distorted. After a few seconds, Sans could sense that his environment had changed completely. His eyes adjusted and he sucked in a quick breath. He was no longer in the ancient stone room but standing beneath a sea of stars.

“What the… am I in space?”

He lost himself in the rapturous view above. Trails of cosmic dust painted the void, while celestial bodies of all types decorated the expansive universe. Soon enough, his brain caught up with his senses, making him aware of the fanatical roar of an ecstatic crowd.

Sans was positioned in the center of a smooth and silver arena, which was surrounded by a barrier of blue lasers like a rigid fishnet. Beyond the barrier were multitudes of faceless phantoms, each of them cheering louder than the one before. Their bodies were dark and illusionary, giving the boy the sensation that none of them were real.

“New challenger of old! Claim victory over your inner demon and conquer the Trial of Man!”

The crowd went ballistic as the mysterious announcer ended his speech. Sans slowly scanned the spectacle of lasers and flashing lights around him, when he spotted something unexpected.

“Go Sans, go! S-A-N-S, Sans!”

“E-Elsie?!”

Behind the barrier shouted Elsie, who was positioned at the front of the faceless crowd of illusions. Her snowy hair swayed side to side as she bounced and cheered with enthusiasm.

I thought the Trial of Man was instanced? How did she get here?

Sans stared at the angelic girl in wonder, when she then pulled out two vibrantly glowing sticks.

“Cheer with me guys! Go Sans! Go! You can do it!”

She waved her green glowsticks through the air, and as if she were leading by example—the legion of illusions procured glowsticks of their own!

“What…”

Sans let out a sigh, but his moment of introspection was soon cut short. A swirl of shadows coalesced a few paces in front of him, and before long, the shadows had completely turned into a floating replica of himself.

With its eyes shut, the replica’s head hung low while the shadows dissipated into the air. Sans stared at the replica, tracing over each of its features with a high level of scrutiny. He scrunched his face in dismay shortly after.

Ugh, do I really look like that?

Once the last of the shadows disappeared, the clone fell to the ground, landing stylishly on the floor. Its head tilted upward and its eyes shot open. Every detail about the clone was completely identical, including a hidden longing within its eyes that Sans recognized all too well.

Freedom…

“Both contestants are finalized! Begin!”

The announcer’s voice rocked the arena. Before Sans could grasp a hold on the situation, the clone had already erupted into a flurry of black and gold flames!

Sans’ eyes widened before conjuring black flames of his own. With a simple thought, the fire curled and condensed around his body like a suit of armor. The clone charged at him the next second, causing cracks to spread across the floor from where he took off.

He’s too fast!

Sans hastily crossed his arms in front, barely blocking the savage punch that flew towards his face. His body rocketed backward, tumbling repeatedly across the arena floor before finally crashing into the barrier of blue light.

“Ugh.”

He picked himself back up, glancing at his adversary. The clone walked towards him in a carefree manner.

Why does it feel like he’s faster than me?

The clone stretched his arm out in Sans’ direction and snapped his fingers. The fire that swirled around the clone’s body was quickly sucked in like a vacuum and funneled along the length its arm. In less than the blink of an eye, a translucent jet stream shot out toward Sans, which then exploded with a heart-stopping shockwave.

Sans didn’t spare a single thought and immediately ducked to the side. The condensed flames around his body cracked and disintegrated as if it had met its match.

How is the clone’s fire hotter?!

Sprinting across the field, he rapidly recounted everything that had happened and grit his teeth in anger.

The clone is faster and stronger. It’s fire is more complex and burns hotter. How am I supposed to beat this thing?

Sans turned around to face his opponent once more, but the clone was nowhere to be seen! Instead, a massive black shroud spread across an entire half of the arena. Sans’ eyes rapidly scanned the shroud for any sign of potential movement, his nerves with taut with tension.

“This…”

He frowned as he inspected the black shroud. Even the lasers and flashing lights that filled the arena seemed to wax and wane after coming into contact with it.

This is the Illuminate skill, but reverse. The absence of light. I know how to do this myself, but this level of mastery… am I capable of that? I think so.

Just as he let his guard down, a horizontal column of fire shot from one side of the shroud. Sans fired back a blast of black flames in response. He easily overpowered the column of fire as if it were a paper tiger.

I can compete with the fire!

Before he could relish his small victory, a loose kick came into his view from the other direction.

“Agh!”

Once more he sailed through the air and found himself face first on the floor. He propped himself up onto one knee and spat out blood.

It was a diversion…

The clone walked toward him with a narcissistic smile. It stretched its hands and arms as if it were merely performing a warmup.

“You’re going to take that from a mere clone?! Fight Sans! Go above and beyond!”

Elsie’s voice entered his ears, which somehow steadied his furiously beating heart. His lips curled in a smile as he stared back at the clone.

“Come then, I’ll fight you to the end.”

Sans beckoned the clone forward with his hand. In response, the clone stood still and reached its arms to either side.

What’s it doing now?

Sans watched with rapt attention. After a small delay, his eyes caught on to something surprising. A clear ripple, originating from the clone, spread throughout the air. It was as if something were traversing the space between them and all across the arena.

Wait… this is like before?

He thought back to his interaction with the clone when it had previously launched a lethal spiral of fire at him.

I was wrong! It’s fire doesn’t burn hotter! Shit!

Without a second thought, Sans immediately sprinted away from the area—just as the clear ripple had encompassed his previous location.

“Leap for it!”

Elsie cried out just as Sans dove through the air. Behind him, the piercing sound of a shockwave rung out, followed by a series of earthshattering explosions that shook the entire arena. The force of the blast sent Sans flying through the air once more and he landed with a heavy thud.

That bastard! He’s purifying the air with Cleanse before igniting it with fire!

Sans groaned and flipped back onto his feet.

“Time to try something different.”

Focusing internally on his body, Sans imagined a molten red fire coursing through his veins. Steam escaped from the surface of his skin while two streams of fire blew through his nose. He didn’t give the clone any time to react and immediately charged forward!

The ground below melted with each step, leaving a puddle of melted sludge in his path. The air ignited everywhere Sans passed through as he closed the distance between himself and the clone.

Illuminate!

A mere step away, Sans’ body flashed with all the blinding light of the sun. It was as if he had collected every source of light and condensed it into a single point.

The clone flinched back briefly, and Sans took full advantage of the opening. A steaming fist collided with the clone’s jaw, and for the first time since the start of the fight—Sans landed a successful blow.

The crowd roared in sync, still waving their glowsticks back and forth.

“Not so great, are you?”

Sans spat out another collection of blood as he eyed the distant clone. Watching the clone pick itself up off the floor was refreshing, but the feeling didn’t last long.

Is it… laughing?

The clone’s body darkened to the point of becoming a black silhouette. A wide and crazed smile stretched across its face, while its eyes were dyed blood-red. A sense of trepidation spread over Sans as he stared with a solemn expression.

This is a clone of me… Is this really me?

Sans readied himself once again, but the clone was gone!

Not good…

Sans rapidly took in all of his surroundings for even the faintest sign of attack. A wisp of shadows licked the air, while a translucent wave once again encompassed the arena.

He’s coming.

The next second, the clone shot out from seemingly nowhere. Raging black flames shrouded its body, but they couldn’t conceal the chaotic smile on its face. Just as the clone’s foot landed on the ground, its body burst with flash of blinding brilliance!

It copied me. Where is it?!

Having lost track of the clone, Sans flipped around in a panic.

“Above you!”

Elsie’s voice cried out just in time for Sans to defend against a shadowy mass of fire. Before he could recover, the clone had already exploded with light and disappeared into darkness once again.

Left!

A tremor spread throughout his body as Sans couldn’t block the blow in time. However, the clone refused to let him get away.

The other side?!

With another flash of light, the clone performed its disappearing act once again with inhuman speed. After landing the first kick, it reappeared behind Sans and delivered another. This was only the beginning of a brutal onslaught.

Sans couldn’t follow the clone at all as it rained a hailstorm of punches on kicks from every direction. He could practically sense his internal organs shift with every hit.

This is impossible…

No matter what action he took, the clone was better. Any strategy he thought of, the clone already knew.

“Urgk…”

A destructive kick ended the clone’s assault. Blood spewed out from Sans’ mouth when he finally received his moment of reprieve. Kneeling on the floor, he gasped heavy breaths and stared at the clone that stood before him.

The clone rolled its neck around in a circle before igniting one hand on fire.

It wants to finish me.

Sans reigned in his unsteady emotions, rapidly processing everything he could.

Is there anything I can do? There must be! I refuse to believe there isn’t!

He clenched his fingers into the arena floor, causing small cracks to appear. Just as he was about to stand, a burning sensation emanated by his side.

“Hmm?”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a blazing hot talisman. His eyes lit up as he read the message.

“Man shall fear the heavens…”

Just as he uttered the phrase, the talisman shot out from his hand and landed directly onto the clone’s chest. A ripple of energy spread across the surface of the clone’s body, and it froze in place!

What just happened?

Sans picked himself up and eyed the clone. Everything about the clone was locked in place, even its eyes were still staring in the same direction. It was as if time had been frozen for just the clone itself. Sans let out an exhausted sigh of relief.

“That was the trick all along?! Ugh, the reward from the Trial of Heaven?”

Sans hobbled forward, slowly closing the gap between himself and his clone.

Was I supposed to use this talisman from the start? Damnit Elsie! Why didn’t you tell me!

Unfortunately, he could only bury his anger in the deepest pits of his belly.

This clone… I learned a lot from this clone. It’s almost a pity to kill it.

Just as he was curiously inspecting the clone’s body, the space between the two of them fractured like a crack in a mirror. The next second, the clone’s eyes slowly locked onto Sans, despite the rest of its body still being frozen in place!

Never mind! This thing needs to die!

Sans only caught sight of the clone’s haunting eyes for the briefest of moments before deciding its fate. He condensed a stream of black fire around his hand and swiftly sliced it through the clone’s throat. Its head flew into the sky before disintegrating in midair, while the clone’s body followed shortly by evaporating into wispy shadows.

“Our winner…”

The faceless announcer’s voice boomed once the clone disappeared completely.

“Sans!”