Chapter 536: [ Ancient Warrior Trial (3) ]

*Thud!*

Allen suddenly got tossed out and after a few seconds, finally, could breathe in the scent of nature once again. Frowning a bit from the hangover like feeling, Allen heard a crisp chirp and opened his eyes where he found himself inside a shrub.

This place is…?

Allen frowned as he dusted himself, slowly stand up, and then walked and navigated his way out of the shrubs and stood on the grass. He scanned his surroundings and realized that he was in the middle of the sea of trees. Pretty much expected but when Allen spread out his perception, he saw a rare prairie just a few dozen meters away.

However, in the distance was once again a deep forest.

Despair Grieving Mountain… huh…

Nine Mountain Peaks… from where he was standing, Allen could see nine mountain peaks with four of them dyed silver, probably snow…

“…so this is the Dungeon, the Ancient Warrior Trial… truly exaggerated. That Romeia sure had an excellent taste and style~”

Looking at his surroundings, Allen then turned around and then saw that far behind him was an extremely vast forest as well.

The smell of the air, the light breeze, the touch of the rough ground. The forest in front of the prairie and the one from behind me, both were covered with huge trees which are easily close to one-hundred meters tall. You would need several people to surround a tree trunk. Allen though, analyzing the surrounding area.

--Welcome to the Solitary Mountain! --

All of a sudden a *Ding sound reached his ears. A purple colored prompt window appeared—Just like a game… huh… Allen’s lips curled upwards. However, Solitary Mountain… Despair Grieving Mountain…

This place isn’t as simple as I expected. Allen surveyed his surroundings and saw a never-ending forest and mountain… just how big is this? The Despair Grieving Mountain he saw when he arrived wasn’t this big… is this an independent Dimension…?

*Ding!

—Yes, this is indeed an independent Dimension.—

A response came. “So you are still here, Self-proclaimed Spirit of Romeia?”

—As the lone Challenger of the trial for a thousand years, I will be here to support and help you as much as I can. That is what I at least can offer—

“Is that so? Then, I will give my thanks. Well, can you explain to me, what is this Despair Grieving Mountain?”

—Despair Grieving Mountain is just a name came up by the people outside. This series of Mountains were once called Nine Mountains and Rivers. After this place becomes a battlefield and a graveyard of the heroes, Her Majesty Romeia used her remaining magical power to lock it into a separate dimension from Celestial Realm. Then, she used her soul power to make it into a Dungeon—

“… …”

—It was just a gamble. A gamble with a high chance of failing but fortunately, perhaps because Nine Mountains and Rivers were once the infamous Jade Castle of the Divine Martial Continent once, it was full of magic power. In the end, with the smallest catalyst, Her Majesty’s Soul, it became like this, independently.—

Really…? Allen muttered inwardly. His heart was full of doubt and suspicion.

“So a gamble full of luck…? However, is she an idiot? Using this kind of massive soul power in one go, does she really understand what would happen to her, whether she succeeded or fail?” Allen sneered.

That’s right… restraining a place in a separate dimension, no matter how strong you are, is impossible! And even if you have enough magical power to support such large-scale magic, the world’s law will interfere!

And in the worst case scenario, not just magical power but… the soul power itself would also be consumed without a very chance of succeeding in activating the magic spell…!

This was a fool’s action…

The soul is a very sensitive existence…

—… …—

“… Soul Power isn’t unlimited. And using it beyond its limit would make one’s existence disappear, never entering samsara or reincarnation. And with this kind separate dimension, no matter how loaded this place with magic power, I dare surmised, the one you call Romeia had already disappeared… or probably turned into this very dimension…you, isn’t it, the spirit of Romeia?”

—As expected of the monster I had seen first, since I was born. Your understanding of souls is surely impressive. Indeed, Her Majesty Romeia’s soul scattered and in great fortune, turned into the essence of this dimension. I was formed from her will, the remaining soul she once had—

It is not that simple…! Allen wanted to cry out but he held it in and kept silence. His eyes narrowed. “This trial is not made from the good heart, so you can now stop pretending. If one finished this trial, either he will sympathize with the heroes and bore a grudge against Celestial Realm or… be corrupted by the hatred the heroes had, if ever the challenger has a weak will. Too bad for you, I am not normal. My power isn’t the only thing that was exceptional, even my mental power was as well.”

“No matter how great the hatred accumulated was, after all this time, I won’t lose into something like this. Darkness will always swallow by greater darkness… like black color being devoured pitch black… it won’t taint my heart or my soul…”

—… Your assumption is not wrong. However, please be at ease, grudges fade at the passing of time. Being in solitude for who knows how many years already, even as the last remaining fragment of Her Majesty Romeia, my hatred had already faded long ago. I wouldn’t ask for such thing anymore…—

“… …” Allen's brows furrowed but he didn't say anything anymore.

*** ***

As Allen tread along the animal trail he had found, he surveyed the surroundings and saw the lush leaves overlay one another almost blocking out the sun entirely. The dead branches and leaves covering the floor have been left there for ages.

All the rock faces were covered in moss, so even one would slip if they weren’t careful. The air carried a wet and stinky stench. This place would be heaven for microbes and decomposed things. Sunlight would never reach the floors of the forest unless it was winter. Catching some sunlight every now and then was like finding new land to Allen.

The small animals in the forest moved in-and-out of the branches as they watched the uninvited guest with curiosity. It was still morning as the sun seemed to be still out there, but within the forest, there was no sunlight, thus, it was somewhat cold for normal people in the forest.

Allen stands in the middle of a dense forest which spreads out almost forever as if the personification of freedom. no one beside you, though he can actually call out Laura and the others whenever he wanted, sometimes, it was actually not bad being alone.

It was neither too hot nor too cold.

Warm sunlight calmly illuminated the ground.

In this warm weather, Allen says the first thing that comes to his mind. “I feel kind of sleepy……” Lifting his head, he observed the surrounding trees which grew tall beyond the observable horizon… seemingly peaceful and quiet.

As soon as he said that,

Roooooaaaarrr!!

The solemn and tranquil forest filled with clear vitality, with much haste, had its serene scenery destroyed yet again by a bunch of wolf-like howling.

In the thick bushes, the pairs of evil-like red eyes should be the beasts that were attracted to his arrival. Their number exceeds twenty, growling like waiting predators.

Awwoooohhh!!

One came out, then another, then three until twelve beasts surrounded Allen. Large beasts, possibly reaching two to three meters tall, baring their fangs that look like that of a saber tiger. Although they still have fur yet for some reason, their muscle-bulging like bodies has black stripes akin to that of a tiger.

[ Demonic Wolfliger: (Lv6) Possessing Intelligence of a wolf and ferocity of a tiger. They often hunt in large packs making them one of the deadliest predators in the Mountains. ]

“Lv6? How strong is that?” Allen asked. Of course he had some knowledge about Lv6 but, in this case, Allen was certain it wasn’t the same as what he had known. These monsters are obviously much powerful than Pawn Class monster of Earth!

—Responding… relying on the power system often used in the present continent, Lv1 corresponds to An Apprentice Stage Cultivator and Lv2 is equal to Master level cultivator and so on… basing on this reference, Lv6 has the power of an Ancestor Realm Cultivator…—

Hm?! Allen frowned. Encountering Lv6 immediately after arriving… is his luck bad, or… don’t tell me… Allen’s eyes dilated.

“System or whatever, did the monsters power change upon my arrival?” Allen recalled about the Hell mode… is this it?

—Affirmative. The monsters power corresponds to the Challengers level or it wouldn’t make any difference… The current challenger's ability exceeds that of Her Majesty’s estimate, thus, it can’t go beyond Hell mode already.—

“Are all the monsters in this forest… upgraded? What about the other illegal intruders? Are they in a different dimension? Or the same?”

—There’s only one trial dimension.—

“F*ck!” Allen cursed subconsciously. Did his presence made the Despair Grieving Mountain… a real despair…?

Allen didn’t care about the other people but Si Mulan and Lan Ling ‘er were considered to be his people. And most of all they are the weakest of the bunch of kiddies… fortunately, he had given them some life-saving items before they come here but even with those things, their lives are still uncertain to be kept after a long time pass.

He just hopes that no matter where they are, they would make finding him a priority…

Allen sighs. Si Mulan is an adventurers idiot who prefers to challenge things head on stubbornly while Lan Ling ‘er… well, that girl would surely hesitate to find me… haiizz, I just hope they would notice the abnormality of the situation before it’s too late…

“What is the average level of monsters here?”

—Responding, due to activating Hell mode, Lv5 became the average level of monsters and Monster Kings were summoned.—

“Monster King?!” Allen exclaimed in shock. “You summoned a Monster King…?!”

—Affirmative. However, encountering a Monster King in the trial has only less than 20% chances of occurring… Monster Kings are the pinnacle of the monster world…—

“And that 20% scares me…!”

Grrr—!! The Wolfligers roared threateningly as if they were about to pounce anymore now. Nasty drools dripped from their jaws.

“Just a bunch of kittens and you want to fight against me?” Allen frowned at the irritating noise and in the next moment, a cloud of white smoke appears from within his body and electrical flashes appeared.

The Wolfliger noticed the abnormality and immediately felt the danger, immediately stepping back. However, before they could retreat in fear, a five-meter dome like thing appeared around them, thin white clouds appeared.

Roooooaarrr!!

Awwwooooh!!

The pack of Wolfligers turned their heads around, fear and anxiety flashed across their eyes. They now felt fear from Allen, but sadly it was already too late. Their movements dulled, moving in a very slow manner as if their bodies were deep in water. And Allen’s figure disappeared from their sight.

!!?

“Ghost Walk…” A voice echoed softly. An ability once used by a certain hero, by combining ice and electric ability, one can produce a similar type of power.