Author’s note- So… I mean it every time I apologize for not making these chapters quickly like I used to. And I’d like to say sorry again for this late release, even if it may mean nothing right now. Anyways, again, I’m really sorry for this. But the good news is that the court case has finally started, so it won’t be long before I’m able to write like I used to.

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Orbs of Blood (5)

After the voice was done speaking, I shook my head groggily and grabbed the orbs from the ground. Then, I got up to my feet. And just as I was about to start running to the tower, I heard a world shaking shriek that echoed all around me. My surroundings became a shade darker, and I could feel an evil presence watching me. It was coming…

I immediately bolted away, dashing through the alley. Letting my golden aura guide me, I made a sharp turn into another alley. And just then I started to hear its footsteps rapidly approaching! It was faster than me!

Kicking another piece of rubble as I ran, it directed me towards a clearing. I ran with all my might towards the area, and hearing the outsider pounce, I dove forward!

A black streak grazed past my body in midair, missing me by a hair. But before I could let out a sigh of relief, I realized I was still falling! What the-

“SPLASH”

Surprised and shocked by the development, I tried to take in a breath of air. But suddenly, water started to pour into my lungs!

At this moment, I realized that I had landed in the Lake surrounding the tower. But that realization only slightly helped my situation, as I had already taken in a lot of water. I was suffocating!

Attempting to get a breath of air, I swam to the surface. But as soon as my head surfaced, I heard another enter the water. And I didn’t have to look behind to guess who it was. It was the outsider!

I started swimming frantically away in panic, but my senses seemed to scream danger! Diving back under the water, I attempted to dodge the incoming blow. But I was too late.

Me- “Ugh!!!”

The giant broadsword sliced deeply into my shoulder! Agh, it hurts so much!

I inhaled more water instead of air, and with it came the coppery taste of my own blood. But this time, I couldn’t swim back up. My left arm wasn’t moving anymore!

Suddenly, the outsider pulled back on the chain, bringing both the broadsword and my body towards it! And it held a scythe like limb at the ready, waiting to slice me again. If this continued, I would end up dying!

My brain started to work faster than ever before as I thought of a way to survive! And in moments, I seemed to grasp something… Water! Yes, that’s right! I was in a lake!

I froze the water beneath me, and in the next instant I was sent flying. Then I started to freeze the water at my landing area, but I didn’t have enough time. The ice looked too thin!

“Crack”

It cracked upon my landing, but thankfully it held.

“Cough Cough”

Spitting out all the water, I began to breathe once more. Thank god!

My head started to clear up after the danger of imminent suffocation was resolved, and the pain from my shoulder was effectively numbed. And with that covered, I began to size up my opponent. The outsider was approaching; step-by-step it was walking on the water. But unfazed by this, I extended my domain of ice across the whole lake.

While I was doing this, the outsider started to brandish its broadsword menacingly.

The outsider- “You. Die. DIE!”

Twirling its broadsword around with the chain, it sent the sword flying at me at breakneck speeds!

Using my enhanced eyesight to determine its trajectory, I set off a flame point X10 in its path. And the broadsword flew straight into the ice lake I had created, cracking it in an innumerable amount of places. But that was easily fixed.

With an intention from my mind, I froze a large portion of the underwater lake. Then water started to surge violently out of the cracks in the ice, especially the ones closest to the sword! Once this started to happen, the outsider seemed to realize something was wrong. It attempted to pull out the sword, but it was too late! Grinning darkly, I uttered involuntarily,

Me- “Checkmate.”

I froze the water, and suddenly the black, runic broadsword was encased in ice. With it, the outsider was trapped; the chains were of no help to it any longer. It could only move freely within a certain radius, giving me time to escape!

Grasping my injured shoulder, I ran as fast as I could towards the tower. And that speed was becoming faster and faster as my body healed at an exponential rate! It wouldn’t be long before I fully recovered!

I was convinced of my imminent victory as I ran, but suddenly, loud cracking sounds started to resound throughout the whole area. What in the world!?

Glancing back as I ran, the outsider was shrouded with a swirling aura of darkness and blood, and it was sending the aura through the chain! No, it couldn’t be…

“Ba-dump”

A tremor shook the whole lake, sending ice shards flying everywhere! And the sword started to glow with a deadly light. Was it planning on shattering the whole lake to free itself!?

Using the same tactic as before, I sent water gushing out of the cracks. And then I froze it, reinforcing its defense. But in response to this, the outsider let out an earth-shattering roar!

“RRRAAAGGHHHHH!!!!!”

The world suddenly shifted to black and white, and a shockwave exploded out, sending me flying!

Smashing into the tower, my vision went dark for a second. And when I was able to regain my bearings, I saw the outsider rushing at me with an unimaginable speed!

Me- “Damn it!”

Reaching for the orbs in my pocket, I attempted to place them on the tower as a last ditch effort, while simultaneously creating a flame point X10 and an explosion of ice in hopes of delaying it. But a sudden jolt of pain from my shoulder prevented me from getting the orbs!

My other hand immediately reached for the Orbs of Blood, but when I had grasped them, the outsider was right in front of me! It slashed, and all I could do was position my injured shoulder in front of the blade.

“Shluk”

I stared blankly as I watched my limb get severed from my body. Blood started to spew like a geyser from the open wound, and then the pain came crushing down like a heavy mountain.

Me- “AHHHHHH!!!”

The sound coming out of my mouth didn’t even seem like my own voice because it was so wretched. And the outsider seemed to respond to my scream, slashing its broadsword towards my head! But I wasn’t in any state to care about that as I used my only remaining arm to place the orbs on the tower, my last remaining hope!

Time seemed to slow down as the broadsword inched towards my head. 5 inches left, 4, 3, 2, 1…

When the broadsword had just pierced my skin, the tower started to shine with a golden, radiant light! And my body turned into a stream of blue light, evading the broadsword!

“Clang!”

The broadsword hit the golden light surrounding the tower and was rebuffed. Moments later, I felt something dragging me upward. And, as if summoned by an unseen force, my form began to snake upwards along the tower as a streak of blue light! But in response to this, the outsider stood frighteningly still, before a dark aura extended past the horizon, and the chains started to hover ominously around its body. And in this moment, I remembered what happened to Stewart. It couldn’t be...!

The chains shot towards me like bolts of black lightning, and I couldn’t move to dodge! So summoning my golden aura, I let it know my hearts desire. To survive!

A moment passed while nothing happened, and then the black chains reached me, wrapping around my arms. And at this, I chuckled bitterly. Was there really a 0% chance of survival, even after I brought the Orbs of Blood to the tower?

The final chain extended towards my neck, piercing through the sky! But when it almost encountered me, the golden light inside the tower pulsated, as if provoked. The radiant light let out a wave of showering power that extended across the world, shattered the chains, killed the outsider, and brought about a new horizon!

Runic lights shone from the ancient wall, and they connected with the wave of power that now existed as a dome. I looked on with awestruck wonder, and then it came to me. This illusionary trial, it wasn’t just some fabrication from someone’s mind.

(Author’s musings: Oh really? I might like to disagree with you there Nathaniel.)

It was a question that came to me earlier on during the trial. If my luck ability influenced the chances of something happening through the smallest means possible, then how would it work in an illusionary trial? After all, I myself didn’t even know the information before hand, and neither would the illusionary trial maker. So where did the input of information come from? It wasn’t made up; it was proved right every time!

This explanation is also reinforced by my previous experience, where the illusionist made the gym I entered an exact replica of the normal gym. So much so I was unable to tell that it was fake until the very end.

But all of this speculation would be baseless if not for one of the five rules about abilities. That is, one’s ability is activated and controlled using thought and/or an action. How can one thought be complex enough to include and define the infinite number of complexities that is called, reality? And the answer is surprisingly simple. To ‘copy’ a place in real life.

And after I realized this, the next thought that came to mind was of its significance. What did this mean for me?

As I was musing over the possibilities, the voice came back, interrupting my thoughts.

???- “Congratulations! You have achieved great results in this trial of Charm and Intelligence. There were three criteria being assessed in this trial. One, the ability to adapt in the face of unforeseen situations and circumstances. Two, the degree of manipulation you achieved over the other contestants. And three, the degree of success achieved according to your role. Results will sent upon your return to the class tomorrow.”

After the voice finished, the world started to shift into a yellowish color. And slowly, I started to see a pulsing, earthen yellow light. Wait, what?

Forcing myself to get up, I moved my lethargic body to a position where I could sit up. Ugh, why am I so groggy?

I rubbed my eyes and then looked around, to see if I could get a clue about what was going on. And I met multiple pairs of eyes looking at me. Why were they glaring like that?

I looked around the room in a sort of confused state, until something in my mind clicked. This place!

A wave of memories crashed into my head, and I remembered everything. And seeing this, Daydream looked over into my direction.

Daydream- “Have you finally come to your senses, Nathaniel?”

I nodded my head slowly, now feeling on guard again.

Daydream- “Good. This trial is over; you may go back now. The results will be announced tomorrow.”

With a wave of his hand, the teleportation portal on the other side of the room suddenly activated, pulsating with a purple light. And as I rose to go into the portal, so did Viola. I glanced at her with this, and she sat right back down, her face pale.

I froze for a second, my gaze lingering on her for a bit longer. Had she finally learned her lesson?

A small grin involuntarily appeared on the side of my face as I thought of all the threats that Viola and her family made towards me. They didn’t amount to much in the end, didn’t they. Hah!

Then my gaze turned over to Adam, who met my provocation with an equally intense gaze. I don’t know what I was seeking when I looked over at him, but the reaction made me a little irritated. Well, fine. I had already bested him in the trial; I’d like to see what he can do against me next time!

And with that thought, I stepped into the portal, starting my journey home.

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Author’s note 2- Well, as you can see, I like to explore into the mental state of the main character. And you may notice that Nathaniel is becoming somewhat crazy, even though I don’t think he realizes it himself. But then again, who wouldn’t become somewhat insane after all this? He he he…