The final moments were finally here, the last few seconds had finally come! I felt stronger than ever and I was ready to evolve once again.

As I had called for the evolution window, all time around me had completely slowed down to a halt. A bright floating message box appeared before me with flashing hexagonal buttons. I then examined the message box to determine the contents.

The Player is ready to evolve! It is recommended to evolve to continue gaining EXP!

I looked at the [Esper] button and saw a small bright line connecting it to another button, I read the new button out loud.

"Esper Adept? Is that a stronger version of the Esper class?" I then began to read it's details and bio.

You have honed your Spirit diligently and reached new heights! You have made your presence noticed by the Unseen World and they have become interested in you!

Bio: "You are now much closer to the Unseen World than before, you have proven that you have what it takes to harness their power and control them at your own will. The Unseen World now officially recognizes you as an Esper and welcomes you with open arms!"

Would like to evolve into [Esper Adept]?

[Yes] or [No]

Without a second thought, I nodded my head with a sly grin stretched across my face, "It's about time they recognized me, yeah, make me into an Esper Adept."

The Player has chosen the class, [Esper Adept]

I then felt my senses open up even stronger than before, the world around began to become hazy and my awareness heightened like never before! A small blue flame engulfed right over my left eye and I was able to vividly see all the Spirits around me; some were great, while others were small.

"This feels amazing, with this I can definitely finish this!"

Congratulations! You have unlocked the following!

- Spirit Arts: Transmute

New Titles!

- Seasoned Esper

New Passives!

- Clairvoyance (Can be toggled on or off)

You have gained a ★ to your Status! All stats have increased by 20%!

"Wait wait! What does that mean!? I have gained a star? I've never seen that before!" I felt an enormous power boost in my body surge at this message, I had to check my stats right away!

PLAYER STATUS

Level 20 Esper Adept ★

Titles: The Radiance of the Samsara, Esper, Goblin Slayer, Seasoned Esper

HP: 160

MP: 200 (+30) (230)

SP: 130

ST: 370

Attributes:

Strength: 60 (+3) (63)

Spirit: 74

Dexterity: 13

Intelligence: 24 (+3) (27)

Sense: 72

Vitality: 18

Luck: 12

"This system really is a blessing..." I blurted as I viewed my new and improved status window. Looks like all my traits have gone up slightly, even the ones I barely pay any attention to. Looks like I need to balance out my stats whenever this is over.

I then noticed the world around me started going back into motion, "Looks like my time is up, it's time to sever some heads!"

I fixed my gaze upon Malcaborg and tightly gripped my scythe, "Heads are going to roll today."

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Time had now gone back to normal and the time began ticking, "34 seconds remaining..."

I shouted out upon the battlefield with a mighty roar, "Malcaborg, hear me!"

Kyoko and Malcaborg's fight had come to a stop after my call out, they were both now looking at me with confused expressions, Kyoko uttered under her breath, "Shin, what are you doing?"

I then proceeded my saying with their attention on me, "One of us going head first into Hell today! Let's find out who shall we!"

Kyoko shouted out to me, "Shin no! You can't do it! He's too powerful for you!"

I pondered to myself, "Too powerful huh? It's not a matter of power, but of completing this ridiculous punishment quest. I don't have the freedom to say no, all I can do is submit and listen to it's every condition. However, with the power it grants me, I can definitely finish him this time. And all it's going to take is one blow just like the rest of them."

I didn't heed Kyoko's saying but instead covered my scythe with burning Spirit, "Shredding fire..."

The Goblin Overlord looked at me with fire in his eyes, I could sense strong feelings of valor and pride. He then responded to my challenge by raising his skull staff towards the sky, it then filled itself with dark red magic and swirling flames. The goblins that stood all around chanted once more for their leader's victory, and the very ground began to shake and rumble.

"This fight determines everything, one of us is going to hell in a few seconds..."

I looked back at the timer, "26 seconds remaining..."

I jam packed as much Spirit into my scythe as I could, the heat that radiated was enough to melt steel! So I reset my footing for a lunge, and then pounced forward!

"HYAAAAAGH!"

Malcaborg didn't rush in with me, but instead casts out these strange crimson ravens that soared into the sky! Around a dozen of these strange red ravens went up, and all of them looked towards me! He then pointed his staff forward at me and all the ravens came down at once!

"Crap! Here they come!" The ravens homed in on me and I had no choice but to dodge them. I evaded from side to side barely missing them, and then one of them managed to slightly graze me with their wing. A small cut appeared but it wasn't nothing to worry about.

"Damn it! He's a ranged attacker! I have to get close and finish him!"

"20 seconds remaining..."

Once all of the ravens were used, he raised up his staff for another spell. I then saw this strange purple and black magic swirl around and forming into small little orbs. There were countless orbs formed within the matter of seconds, and in one moment, they all shot out towards me.

I couldn't dodge them all, so I had to raise up my defense and slash every single one of them while moving forward! I swung my blade left, right, up and down negating every black orb. And without me even knowing, I saw a giant purple flaming phoenix soar upwards towards the sky. It was bright and mesmerizing, but I couldn't avert my attention due to all the attacking orbs.

"15 seconds..."

The enormous purple phoenix then spread it's wings and opened it's beak, and in the next second, a multitude of fiery feathers rained down on the battlefield! Kyoko cried out to me, "Shin take cover!"

I built up a ton of power and used one of my many skills, "Wind cutter!"

A fiery blue slash of wind cut through and extinguished some of the raining feathers that were homing in on me, Kyoko on the other hand, was running directly to my aid!

She joined up with me shortly, "Shin what the hell are you---"

I cut her off mid sentence, "No time to explain! Kyoko just cover me!"

I ran off without giving her another moment to respond, she screamed to me, "Damn it Shin!"

I bolted in slashing at every flaming feather, and soon I was just meters away from Malcaborg.

"8 seconds remaining..."

I packed my scythe with all the Spirit left my in body, it would be foolish to withhold anything a this point! My scythe was burning like a raging inferno, and it yearned for blood.

"5 seconds remaining..."

I now stood before the Goblin Overlord, but I couldn't see an opening from where I was at. It felt like all time had slowed down, and I saw dozens of black orbs and fiery feathers coming in at me.

"Damn it! Not like this!? I'm right here!"

It was then that I saw a pink haired woman rush in and land a devastating blow against the enemy. She then looked at me and shouted, "DO IT SHIN!"

"2 second remaining..."

I pulled all the strength in my body and leaped over Kyoko's shoulder, and aimed my scythe straight for his neck! "Burn in Hell!"

Then time had stopped completely.

Punishment Quest Failed!

You didn't complete all the quest conditions in the given time limit!

You are now temporarily banned from using the Blessing!All stats, abilities, and levels have been reset to default!

Duration of ban: 7 days, 0 hours, 0 seconds

"You have to be f####### kidding me!?"

All time had returned back to normal and I felt my entire body collapse, and my scythe extinguished. I swung anyways my blade anyways in a desperate attempt, but I wasn't fast enough.

Malcaborg then countered my slow attack by bashing in my skull with his solid staff, one singular thought crossed my mind as I went flying outward.

"Oh, so he was close ranged after all..." My vision faded and then it was lights out for me.