Jacob swam as fast as he could. He knew exactly what he was looking for. As soon as he saw a Hydra-shaped statue, he pulled its tail.

Whoever built this mechanism has a very cringe sense of humor.

A block of stone slid from its place and showed him a dark tunnel. He kept going forward, feeling the wall close as soon as he went past it.

If he remembered well, this place was supposed to be sort of a Sanctuary. In his past life, Frederick had stumbled upon this room by mistake. Thanks to his incredible talent, he managed to acquire a mighty sword. However, Frederick had never been a swordsman and discarded the blade a little after.

Who disturbs this great one’s slumber?

Jacob emerged on a set of stone stairs and felt a soul-attack; it wasn’t meant to kill nor injure him, but only rattle him a bit. However, the only thing Jacob had brought back from his past life was his soul, and it was strong enough to take on the Black Dragon himself.

“Old fu*k, come out right now. I’m not up for games,” Jacob shouted, crushing the attack with a simple thought.

Do you dare insult this great one’s dignity? Then, puny human, I will smite you.

Jacob stared at a luminous sword on a set of thirty-three steps. The light from the weapon made it possible to see the rest of the room.

He felt an attack on his soul, this time meant to kill him on the spot. Jacob focused on his soul and squashed this attack, too, like nothing.

“Old f*ck, don’t play games with me, or I swear I will unbind your soul from that piece of rust you call a sword. I’m in a great hurry, and I can’t be bothered with your little games. So don’t oppose me if you want to keep your miserable life,” Jacob was pressed for time, and he didn’t care for niceties. He could destroy the spirit in the sword as soon as he put his hands on it, and in a world made for the strong ones, he knew how effective such threats could be.

How is this possible?! Why are you still alive, you filthy cockroach!

“Jesus Christ and his sweet Holy Mother, shut it!”

Jacob tried to take a step forward but felt great resistance.

“I said to put this fuc**ng thing down! I need that piece of rust!”

Sadly, the trial was made to test both the strength of the soul and a person's talent. The lower the talent, the bigger the resistance one would face while climbing the steps. Soul force was gripping; its base level followed natural talent, but raw talent did not have the same dependency. So even if Jacob had an insane Soul Power, his talent still sucked, hard.

How is your stupid soul so strong?!

Jacob had barely noticed, but the spirit was attacking his soul with all its strength.

“Holy f*ck, are you dense? My friends are under attack. I can kill all the bastards with your stupid sword! But, if you don’t concede immediately, I will unbind your soul with the Golden Crest Empire Soul Torture Technique!”

WHAT?!

The spirit did not expect him to know such a mysterious and powerful technique. Once bound to a weapon, a soul would forget everything about his own life, but it could still acquire new knowledge. The Golden Crest Empire was famous for its Soul-related Techniques and was probably the first to bind souls to weapons. In fact, one used the name Spirit Weapon for a weapon with a soul attached to it, whereas Soul Weapons were on a completely different level.

Fuck, it’s been more than a minute and a half, and I have to take the first step yet.

Jacob pressed his body against the huge pressure he could feel on it and stepped on the first step.

“Did you hear me?! You think I won’t do it?!” he screamed.

Holy mother of artifacts and relics. This cockroach…

“I know all 71 Patterns to the Golden Crest Empire Soul Torture Technique, and I will inscribe them on that piece of rust, I swear!”

Sh*t! I believe you, cockroach! But you should know better than me that this mighty sword can’t help you! The pedestal generates the pressure I’m on. Even if I try to cut off my connection, the pressure will just slightly diminish! You need a great talent compared to your current cultivation level. It’s a talent-based trial, cockroach!

The spirit became very attentive as soon as he started mentioning how he would destroy it.

F*CK!

He felt the aforementioned drop in pressure, but his body was still too weak to get to the top of the stairs in three minutes.

He tried hurrying up, but he felt a capillary in his nose burst, and blood came down to his lips.

Your talent, cockroach, does not match your incredible soul. This great one is saddened by it, but you will not make it to the top in one piece.

There was some mocking in the voice of the spirit, and Jacob started seeing red.

He quickly stepped up to the 6th step, feeling different capillaries burst in his body.

He took out a small paste he had made the night before and started chewing on it.

Oh, an Alchemist as well as a Soul Warrior? You are picking the interest of this great one.

Jacob ignored the idiot and started pushing back.

This great one does not know how you came upon the knowledge of the Golden Crest Empire, but we know that you will not make it to the top. Why don’t you wait until your talent improves come back? Then, you might make a worthy wielder of this great one gifts. At this moment, though, you are inadequate. You are an alchemist. Go concoct something to either improve your talent or make your body temporarily more resilient!

After making it to the 9th step, three minutes were almost up.

They are in great trouble.

He stared at the top of the stone stairs. It looked as far as something ever did in his entire life.