The darkness and unfeeling soon gave way, and I thought again. All of my feeling was gone, and I don't know how long I was out. It felt like an eternity, suspended in a void of nothingness. Finally, a glimmer of awareness returned, accompanied by a sense of disorientation. I opened my eyes, seeing a blank open canvas stretched out before me. The floor beneath me was a dark, ominous shade of grey, devoid of any texture or pattern. Above, the sky stretched out in every direction, a vast expanse of the same bleak color, offering no hints of a horizon or any discernible landmarks.
I turned my head in various directions, trying to make sense of my surroundings, but there was nothing to see except for the monotonous grey landscape. My heart began to race as panic set in. Am I trapped in some kind of nightmare? Is this even real?
Just as I started to question my sanity, a flicker of movement caught my attention. Before my eyes, as if summoned by some unseen force, the quest board materialized out of thin air. Its edges shimmered with an ethereal glow, contrasting starkly against the dreary backdrop. I blinked in disbelief, my mind struggling to comprehend what I was witnessing. You have to be kidding me...
----------------------------------------
Quest 11: Tribulations
Complete the Gauntlet of Tribulations.
Requirements:
Survive until the end.
Recommendations:
Find the hidden item. It will help you in many ways.
Rewards:
10000 points (2000 extra if recommendations completed)
+240 Strength
+250 Speed
+Item: Covenant Shard
----------------------------------------
This is huge, my eyes widening as I scanned the intricate details displayed before me. These stats were more than any I'd accumulated throughout my entire crusade. My fist tightened instinctively. This must be a sign from the System that I'm nearing the end. They said I'm at the second stage, right? Moving on from that, I shifted my focus to the item before me, my curiosity piqued by its unfamiliarity. This is a new type of reward I've never seen before, I noted, my brow furrowing in concentration. Points had always been useful, but until now, they had been the sole form of reward, the only thing changing was the amount.
But first, I reminded myself, there were points to be claimed from the fight with Time. With a steady hand, I held out my palm upward, a silent command echoing in the recesses of my mind. Quite quickly, almost eagerly, the book appeared before me, its pages glowing with an ethereal light that seemed to pulse with hidden power. I leaned in closer, my eyes scanning the text for any irregularities. And there it was, plain as day - my soul hadn't increased at all.
I guess I can't use skills while completing this quest. Well, time to upgrade.
----------------------------------------
Book Level: 4
Name: Oren Hashigana
Health: 4500
Strength: 210 (+10)
Speed: 220 (+20)
Defense: 11% (+6%)
Soul: -370
Skills:
Lvl. 2 Skill Combination
Lvl. 3 Lazarus
Lvl. 1 Hard Slam
Lvl. 1 Strength Booster
Lvl. 1 Speed Booster
Lvl. 1 Triple Strike
Lvl. 1 Cross-Arm Guard
Lvl. 1 Critical Hit
Lvl. 2 Danger Sense
Lvl. 1 Sledgehammer
Lvl. 1 Rage
Lvl. 1 Stealing Skills
Lvl. 2 Guaranteed Dodge
Lvl. 2 Peeking
Lvl. 2 Sword Power
Lvl. 1 Passive Healing
Lvl. 3 Roulette
Lvl. ??? Infinite Growth Limit (Passive) - No growth limit.
Points: 88
Shop:
Stats: 90p
Lvl. 3 Protection - For each person you are actively protecting in a fight, gain much higher defense and strength. 0 soul to use, one week cooldown. 3000p
Lvl. 3 Solomonic Adaptability (Passive) - Your adaptation and combat will is increased immensely. 5000p
Lvl. 1 Nullify - Nullify one ailment or status. 20 soul to use, one week cooldown. 1000p
Lvl. 3 Weapon Mastery - Any weapon that you pick up is able to hurt Gifted. Consequently, you are able to use it at an expert's level. 50 soul every minute of use, one day cooldown. 6000p
Upgrade Book: 50000p
----------------------------------------
I finished upgrading and threw the book to the side, its pages fluttering before it shortly disappeared into thin air. The action felt oddly satisfying, as if casting aside a weight I hadn't realized I'd been carrying. I get their thought process, for this quest, I mean. I have been overusing my skills, but that's just because nearly everyone I have fought against has higher stats. No matter, for when I complete this quest, barely any alliance member will hold a candle to me. Confidence surged through my veins like a raging torrent, fueling my resolve and sharpening my focus.
My body was feeling the excitement, every nerve tingling. I was ready, eager to face whatever challenges lay ahead. But what gauntlet were they talking about? I glanced around, my eyes straining to pierce through the oppressive darkness that surrounded me. There was nothing, just an endless expanse of emptiness stretching out in every direction. I could barely even see twenty meters out, the obscurity swallowing the world whole.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Suddenly, a loud horn noise ruptured throughout the empty space, shattering the silence with its piercing intensity. It sounded like one of those Orthodox bands, its reverberations echoing off the invisible walls that hemmed me in. I instinctively put my hands up to my ears, but it was still deafening, the sound drilling into my skull. Nothing else was changing other than the sound. It has to be something for me to fight, right? I wondered, my mind racing to make sense of the situation. I pivoted my foot to a fighting stance, but kept my hands firmly pressed against my ears, a futile attempt to block out the cacophony assaulting my senses.
The noise suddenly peaked above, its piercing pitch demanding my attention. I craned my neck upward, squinting against the dim light filtering through the gloom above. A paper soon flew from the dark expanse above, its edges fluttering as it shifted side to side in the unseen currents. With a soft thud, it dropped at my feet, the words etched upon it appearing ancient and weathered, basically old broken English. "Perform two hundred million pressings-up," it read.
At this point, after all my quests, this doesn't seem so bad. I dropped down onto the unforgiving floor, the weight of the task ahead settling heavily upon my shoulders. With a swift motion, I tossed the paper to the side, my focus narrowing to the task at hand. Hands perpendicular to my shoulders and legs stretched, I assumed the starting position, muscles coiled like a spring ready to be unleashed. I began the motion, lowering myself towards the ground with deliberate control. But as I pushed myself back up, a sharp 'ding' noise pierced the air, the sound reminiscent of those game shows I used to watch. Incorrect, it seemed to taunt me. I knew it, they're going to make me use perfect form, I realized with a resigned sigh.
Undeterred, I reset myself, this time focusing on every aspect of my form. Shoulders squared, back straight, every muscle engaged. With a steady rhythm, I completed the motion once more. Another 'ding' noise played, but this time it was different, signaling success rather than failure. Time to put in the work.
God, do I have to do more? How many more? It's starting to hurt. Do I get a break? Can I have some water? I want to see Aroha again. Those words echoed in my head over and over as I did the pushups.
A loud ding noise was music to my ears, a signal of relief as I dropped to the floor, my muscles destroyed. That was my limit, I realized with a grim certainty. If I had to do one more, I would've died, every fiber of my being protesting against further exertion. The area around me was ridden with sweat, forming small pools on the ground, while deep callouses that stained my hands.
When you attain strength and speed; it also grants you stamina and endurance. It was a simple yet profound truth, one that had been simplified for us humans to comprehend. I recalled the tale of a celebrity who, boasting a properly documented 20 strength stat, was able to perform more than a thousand pushups on live television in a matter of seconds. It was a feat that had left audiences awestruck, a glimpse into the incredible potential granted by stats. But that was early on into the gift, before the crime hit, before the world was plunged into chaos and uncertainty.
Another noise rang through the air, but this time it was more ominous, sending a shiver down my spine. It was a muffled scream, distant yet unmistakable in its intensity. Fear gripped me tightly as I realized the implications. I was in no state to fight, my body pushed to its limits by the grueling exercise. Panic clawed at the edges of my consciousness as I struggled to make sense of the situation, every instinct urging me to seek shelter and safety.
I put my right fist on the ground and raised myself up, every muscle protesting with aches and fatigue. The strain of the previous exertion weighed heavily upon me, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I struggled to regain my composure. Amidst the cacophony of my own labored breathing, I heard something else - loud, purposeful footsteps echoing from behind me. With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I turned to face whoever it was, my heart pounding in my chest.
A sense of dread washed over me like a tidal wave as I laid eyes on the figure approaching me. It was him, a ghost of the past I had longed to forget, yet couldn't escape. Clad in his ominous robe, his presence loomed over me like a shadow, casting a pall of unease upon the already tense atmosphere. It was the Representative of Deception, unmistakable despite the passage of time and the scars that marred his once-imposing visage.
But something was different. His usually impeccable appearance was marred by signs of violence, his robes stained with blood and a bandage covering his right eye. It must be some illusion or robot sent to fight me, I reasoned, my mind struggling to reconcile the sight before me. An NPC, in layman's terms. No way he's still alive or something, I thought, a flicker of disbelief mingling with the fear that gripped me. What he's done to us still hurts me, I acknowledged silently, the memories of past betrayals resurfacing with painful clarity. But I could tell the System was just trying to get a rise out of me, to test my resolve in the face of adversity. With a steady hand, I grasped my fist tighter, steeling myself for the confrontation that lay ahead. Whatever illusions or challenges the System threw at me, I was ready to face them head-on.
Deception's voice echoed with a sinister edge, "I can hear what you're thinking, buddy! Too bad for you, I'm here right now! After that fight we had, I was sent here. Waiting and waiting, I was finally given a task; to kill you!" His accusatory finger jabbed in my direction, the gesture laden with threat. My mind raced with disbelief and fear. I-I-i-.. Please don't tell me this is real, it has to be some AI or demon controlling him. But his next words shattered any hope of it being an illusion or manipulation of the System. "Nah, man! I'm real! This is my honest to goodness self! You've grown a bit stronger, but someone nice told me you can't use your skills. What good that is for me!" His mocking tone was laced with a sadistic glee as he raised his arms in a taunting gesture of praise.
I struggled to form coherent thoughts, my mouth moving soundlessly as I grappled with the gravity of the situation. After several agonizing seconds, I managed to summon the courage to confront him. "Why? You're dead or whatever; the Criminal Alliance is gone-" He swiped his hand, wind flying in my direction.
I launched myself into the air, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack. My emotions were going haywire, heightening my senses as I descended back to the ground, my knees absorbing the impact with a sharp jolt of pain. I grimaced, feeling the strain of the pushups weighing heavily upon me. I'm not at my best, how could I..
Deception's mocking laughter sliced through the air, "Hopefully that shut you up. The Criminal Alliance just helped me do what I wanted to do. I helped them out and they gave me fun! Even if they weren't around, I would do the same damn thing. Now, it's time to die." He lunged forward, his movements swift and calculated. As he came barreling toward me with a front kick, I braced myself, my muscles tensing in anticipation. Despite the haze of pain and fatigue, I could just about see his movements, noting the slight hesitation in his step. He's not at his best either.
I interlocked my fingers and caught the front kick right in front of my chest, the impact reverberating through my bones. My fingers lay on top of his shin, stopping it from moving forward. With an overconfident grin, I quipped, "Yeah, right. It's not my time to die, it's your time to go to Hell."