'Was the mental imprint just an elaborate trap in the end?'

Finding myself in such an unsolvable situation that had every possibility of ending with my death, I couldn't help but suspect the true intent of the mental imprint that 'gifted' me the Crystal Tower of Refinement.

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Originally, I accepted its words to be the truth due to both its nature as a lifeless imprint as well as the special 'Demon Hunter' knowledge that it knew. Moreover, the benefits that I received weren't little at all, even my Perception didn't seem to sense any threat or malice.

However, with a deadend like this standing before me and the very last step of leaving, everything was up to debate. It could be that all these points that assured me were simply there for that reason, gaining my trust before stabbing me in the back.

Was such a detailed training and refining 'Law' tool really just a way to lure me into a trap?

'No.'

In the end, I quickly gathered my thoughts and ended these dark suspicions, these suspicions were obviously still influenced by the corruptive mental invasion of the 'figure'.

Looking at it from another point of view, the 'figure' itself seemed to be surprised to appear here. He simply decided to eliminate me due to my potential threat, the chances he was part of this plot was very low.

'This is probably a very special occurrence that took place as a coincidence.'

Persuading myself to ignore the dark thoughts, I rotated the clockworks in my mind at full speed, thinking of methods that could solve the situation other than gambling on the chance that the figure was bluffing.

Even in the low chance that this was really an elaborate trap, it didn't mean that all paths were blocked! New solutions came out in the world everyday! It's only a matter of whether you can apply it or not!

'Not this… Not this…'

Ideas come up at sonic speed, but were quickly rejected by me at the same pace. This situation was really 'narrow', not many openings could be made…

However!

'Perhaps… that would work?'

After five minutes of avoiding and slashing at the nonchalant 'figure' who seemed like he had all time to no avail, an idea that wasn't automatically rejected by me came up!

'Since his strongest property is 'mentality' even though he is just made out of energy, then…'

Processing the idea, my mind started relaxing more and more as it confirmed the logic behind it to be the most plausible one. Regardless, it was still only a theory that was barely mentioned in any of the books and records that I read.

'The main point is… Can mental energy do that?'

The concept of the idea itself was pretty simple, it just suggested that one would use mental energy to control other energies like weapon energy or elements, that wasn't overcomplicated at all, it was a point of whether it was doable or not.

The 'Telekinesis' or even the simple control of mental energy was based on a very simple theory, it used the intangible mental energy, to control or affect the tangible, whether that be simple objects or living opponents. This was confirmed to be the case by me, which was based on all the experiments that I did till this point.

Even the books or records that mentioned this theory simply did so to deny the idea, it was my mind that suggested that there might be a chance for success.

'I only experimented till my 'Wisdom' reached 40 points. It could work…'

My current Wisdom was a whopping 50 points, that was already 20 points ahead of the peak of normal humans and 10 points ahead of my last mental energy experiment, the chance that a certain qualitative change that altered its basic properties took place were still high.

Furthermore, I still had 8 points that could be added, though I had a foreboding that doing so could be dangerous, I could worry about that later after I get out of this sticky situation!

'That's the only method that might give me the chance.'

Using physical attacks proved useless so far, only such a mysterious energy like mental energy could change the situation, especially when dealing with something like this 'figure'.

Having already clashed with him for this long, I confirmed that mental energy on its own didn't harm him, perhaps only by combining it with Darkness would work out. After all, this was the only method to cause 'harm' in the tower of refining.

- Still confident? That's better! I have been very bored lately, such a chance is really rare! -

The feelings on the face of the 'figure' intensified, he seemed like he wanted to end the battle very quickly at the beginning, but it seemed like he was slowly enjoying the feeling of hunting a harmless prey.

'I hope this will give you enough 'joy'...'

Ignoring the words of provocation that the figure threw at me, I focused my mental energy that surrounded my swords into the Darkness elements on the sword themselves, trying to grab a hold of it…

No reaction seemed to come out, it was simply like trying to grab the air, one wouldn't be able to capture the gas particles, and that was exactly the case.

'Is it really implausible…?'

I was slightly disappointed as I contemplated whether I should add more points into my 'Wisdom'. However…

'Huh?'

Like a little child that kept avoiding holding the hand that an adult extended, the Darkness elements seemed to have tangible frictions with the mental energy after trying to grab hold of it several dozens of times.

'This…'

Such a reaction was simply exciting, if the Darkness elements only required more coaxing to allow mental energy to grab hold of it, there was a great chance an attack could work.

- Hmmm? Did you decide to give up this early? -

As a small smile escaped my mouth, the 'figure' seemed to mistake it for a smile of helplessness, shaking his head in 'regret'.

"Perhaps…"

Giving him an answer for the first time since he appeared, I smiled even more deep inside as the Darkness elements reluctantly accepted the 'mental hand' that was trying to take hold of it…

'...your turn to give up would be soon…'