You have died

That message flashed in front of Sain's eyes but when he came to, he was still here? Didn't he die? Wasn't he suppose to be booted out of the game? What was going on?

Was this just an illusion then?

However he felt like something heavy was pressing down on his mind.

However confusion was not allowed as the person in front of them, the person that Sain believed to have ripped his head off...thankfully the pain levels were reduced a lot to taking a hard hit in reality...

“Eden?!” shouted Lyndis seeing the familiar black haired person in front of them, who also attacked Sain as well.

But at the same time, this Eden seemed different from the normal one, he still had that overwhelming feeling to it but...it almost lacked invincibility to it. Plus his equipment were only a shirt and pants as well.

But the most noticeable thing was that the black tattoos all over his body were clearly visible and he wasn't even using his powers.

“That means!!!” Shadow looked at the other two and found they were Alexandra and Viv as well.

Alexandra was wearing golden armour with a dull glow and a fancy design that was completely different from the one they remembered her to use and Viv's own equipment seemed to have been downgraded as well.

“Your attentiveness is lacking!” Eden shouted before firing off several fireballs at close range.

Miriel reacted to that quite quickly and shouted, “Barrier Queen Art: Elemental Reflection Barrier!” targeting Raven who ran into the fireballs intending to detonate them before they hit the others.

BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!

However the barrier around Raven was broken instantly with brute force and Raven was consumed by flames.

Party Member: Raven has died

Seeing this message Sain looked at where Raven was and realised he was still there. Like him, he didn't disappear when he was killed? Were they now just ghosts?

“Sain! Your orders! What the hell should we do?!” shouted Shadow snapping in out of his thoughts. However the first thing that Sain though that he could see him, which mean that they weren't dying?

“You know it's a bad thing to blank out in battle~ Sword Wave!”

Alexandra appeared a good distance away from the group but gathered a large amount of energy into her sword and shot it at the group...who all could not react since it was too fast.

BAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNGGG!!!

You have died

Party Member: Shadow has died

Party Member: Miriel has died

Party Member: Serena has died

Party Member: Raven has died

Party Member: Lyndis has died

It seemed their health was reduced down to zero as they were blasted away and hit the back wall but in the end Sain could hear the groans and pain of the others quite fine. Due to the shock they were unable to move as the trio looked at them a bit disappointed.

“Giving up already?” asked Alexandra in a slightly pouting tone.

“Well you did blast them away like that, normal people wouldn't be able to get up after that” said Eden, “Though now that I think about it, it is strange that I do even though I'm normal.”

Viv then said, “Shouldn't we tell them about the rules and conditions they need to beat before you two decided to surprise attack them out of nowhere. It was a no-brainer that they all ended up like this when you did that.”

“....” “....”

“Right you forgot about that didn't you...” sighed Viv shaking his head.

“Basically you need to survive for two hours here” he started to explain as the group one by one got up, “In this room, you cannot die so disable those messages, and health and mana every time you die though you will still feel pain and the sensation of death every time you die. Finally the effects of buffs disappear when you die but the cool down of spells will also reset when you die. If you manage to stay up after 2 hours or do something interesting then you will clear the quest and get new classes.”

“Is there anything we need to explain?” wondered Alexandra.

“Hmm...there was something about your performance affecting the end class you will get I think” Eden pointed out as he looked down at the group.

With those words a window that more or less summarised what was said appeared.

2nd Class Advancement Trial

In order to complete this trial to get a more advance class, there are several conditions you need to clear. These are:

Be able to fight till the end of the 2 hour period

Else do something interesting to complete the trial if the first condition has failed

During your time in this room there are other effects that are given.

When you die, you will instantly be revived in the next moment

This will cause all health, mana status effects and cool downs to reset as well

“That said...” Eden let out an evil grin, “We won't be holding back even if we're not real.”

Alexandra agreed and said, “We're the same level as you guys, level 200 and were based off us when we were at this level which is basically us around half a year into the game which is like only a sixth of the time you had. Well according to my latest memory, we are in Morata right now in it's early days though at the same time I have a feeling that us right now are in our early days as well.”

“So basically you guys are a younger version of the ones we know?” asked Miriel.

“More or less” said Eden, “Though I am curious how long it has been and what we have been doing since our now and your now.”

“Enough of chit chat...” said Alexandra, “Since we kinda attacked you out of nowhere, you can have some free attacks on us~” provoking them a bit.

“I say three attacks will do then” said Eden agreeing with what Alexandra just said.

“In that case...” Sain realised that Shadow was near them now and used 'Stealth' as they were talking. In an instant from using 'Burst Speed' he presumed, Shadow was behind Eden with his dagger out about to use 'Backstab' on him.

Since they were of the same level now, something like this would kill Eden if not critically injure him or so Shadow thought.

“Too slow.”

Bang!

Eden twisted his body and kicked Shadow in the stomach sending him flying away, away from the rest of the group.

“That's one attack~” said Alexandra not paying attention to the rest of the group at all to even turn her back to them. Lyndis took this opportunity using 'Speed Stance' and 'Speed Strike' to attack Alexandra.

Now, the group were at a stage where they can use skills without shouting out the names of them though they still find it easier by habit to do so.

But at the same time Lyndis' sword was about to touch Alexandra...

Clang!

Alexandra carelessly parried the blow using her own strike. With a grin, she swung her sword down at Lyndis forcing her to block with her sword up and at the same time landed a kick on Lyndis before striking her down a second time.

Bang!

The blow of the strike was enough to plastered Lyndis onto the ground with force alone.

“Your strikes are too weak and your swings are yet not precise enough and is like a child swinging a sword for the first time” Alexandra started criticising Lyndis but then said, “Oh that will count as the second attack on us before we come to attack you as well~”

Hearing this, there was a large pressure for Sain, Miriel, Serena and Raven who were left standing. After this attack, they would be attacked...judging from their speed and power even though they were of the same level, Sain knew they were outmatched...

In their current state that is.

“Miriel, Serena, starting applying buffs on us...we should do this since they said they won't attack until we do for now” ordered Sain cautiously. He would want to take this advantage as much as he could while it still lasted.

Of all the buffs they had, only Serena had two that lasted for at least 2 hours and one of them was useless right now since they were underground.

Both of them nodded and starting chanting at once.

“The Night calls! The night that exist from the genesis of all creation pulls from the strength of all and no creature! Let the night shine darkly on you and being great strength to battle any and all evil! Blessing of Strengthened Night.”

All stats will increase by 20%

Serena stopped chanting there since health regeneration buffs did not matter here at all.

“Melody of Strength! Melody of Speed!” Miriel chanted those two spells at once.

Strength increased by 50% for 10 minutes

Agility increased by 50% for 10 minutes

“Let the body become harder than all other! Iron Skin!”

“Let strength gather and become the wind! Swift Legs!”

“Let fury overcome you and strike down all foes! Berserk Fury!”

Defence has been increased by 150 points

Agility has been increased by 150 points

Strength has been increased by 150 points

Sain applied these buffs to every in the group as well and did so without the need to consider the need to converse mana right now. This place...where mana would not drop was a useful one but at the same time how many times would they die even with this?

“Are you done yet? I'm getting bored here” asked Eden tapping his foot on the ground impatient.

“Not yet...” said Sain with a smile, “Boost! Compressed Magic Mastery Release!”

Boost has been activated. All stats, effects and consumption will double

Effects of the 'Mark of the Serpent' is now active. 'All Knowing Eyes' is now active.

Compressed Magic Mastery has been released. Magic Strength +900%

Right now, when released, Sain's 'Compressed Magic Mastery' would give him a bonus of 300% increased magic damage normally due to the bonus of reaching the intermediate level skill being doubled as well.

With Sain not using this bonus since the day began, the effects of the skill tripled to 900%. However that was not all since his 'Violent Energy Circulation' skill came into play as well. At it's current level, it also gave a passive bonus of 150% increased magic strength as well.

This means the total increase of magic strength Sain could use right now as 2250% off his base stats which were less than half of Miriel's. But with the bonus in magic strength, Sain's own magic attacks were several times higher than Miriel's now and were on a level where it could match a level 300 mage or even a level 400 as well considering boost practically quad-tripled these effects as well but at the same time lowered his time limit as well.

However the main problem was that he had a time limit, at most 10 minutes where the bonus will drop down dramatically the more he uses spells, all the way down to a 375% total magic strength increase bonus with the effects of 'Compressed Magic Mastery' going down to it's base 150% increased magic strength.

Therefore Sain needed to make this count at least.

Since attacks wouldn't matter that much...he would at least make it more difficult for the three to attack them after this.

“Evil Rule Art: Downplay Rule!” he chanted sending out the dark energy of the spell at Eden, Alexandra and Viv all at once even though it was not designed to target multiple people.

The effects of poison, paralyse, confusion, sleep, weaken, slow and mind break came into play immediately with all three of them slightly surprised at it's effects.

“Use Boost and attack now!” Sain shouted feeling the effects of his mana draining but at the same time being unable to use any more spells.

Feeling this, he quickly used his spear and stabbed himself to die and revive with full mana again even though the effects of the buffs he had would disappear.

He watched as the others attacked at once. Lyndis and Shadow were fine now as well considering they were hit quite hard and had the time to recover now.

“Dragon Dance Art: Final Slash!” “Divine Shadow Art: Final Assassinate!” “Meteor Stream Art: Aura Saber!” “Glacier Strike!” “Leaf Slicer!”

All five of them attacked at once with only Miriel and Serena not using their 'Art Skills' since they were not attack skills but rather support ones instead, so they used their regular spells.

All five sets of attacks went to the trio but Sain felt that something was off, like even this attack would not work.

“Mana Shields!” Eden shouted sending out waves of mana that formed into spheres around them instantly, Sain could see using his 'All Knowing Eyes' that there were a half a dozen layers onto it and all around all three of them at once as well.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The five attacks hit the mana shields and only managed to crack through the first layer and stopped at the second layer of the mana shields.

Seeing this, Eden smiled and said, “That's the third attack. Now it is our turn.”

it had failed, even though they were the same level as them, even though these version of them had less experience than them, even though they had less training then them, it still failed.

“What monsters...” Sain could not help but to say.

Whether it was in stats or skill proficiency, Sain was sure that they were higher than theirs if not the same level, three years compared to half a year. There was a large difference no matter what you do, but to stop five sets of attacks at once like that?

The spell 'Mana Shied' at that level should not have that much power.

“Blood Burst!” chanted Serena firing off her most powerful spell in destructive power.

Seeing the red orb fly towards them Viv said, “Dodge it.”

The other two seemed to have understood this and dodged it when it ripped through the mana shields, no it was simply that Eden stopped supplying it with mana that it so easily got through.

As they were dodging Sain and Miriel fired their spells at them rapidly, but almost none of them actually hit them.

All three of them went into different directions, without a course of teamwork anywhere. Eden attacked himself and Miriel at the same time while Alexandra went to Lyndis, Raven and Shadow and finally Viv faced Serena.

He had no time to help the others now, he and Miriel needed to focus to at least resist Eden.

“Magic Arrows!” he chanted firing them at Eden. As a result of not wanting to be hit, Eden jumped into the air to dodge them to which Sain remarked that his jumping abilities were better than Shadow's.

Since precise attacks did not work...

“Wide spread! Mana Bolts!” “Mana Bolts!”

It seemed Miriel understood this thought pattern enough as she fired off the same spell as him at the same time, even though right now her spell was weaker than his...

25 Mana Bolts came from Miriel and 29 came from Sain, all of which like a shotgun attack shot at Eden who was in the air.

“Fools!” It was at the moment the Mana Bolts hit Eden that Sain realised something was wrong. They weren't doing as much damage as before, or rather they did so little damage that it didn't matter.

Even though 'Mana Bolts' was a low cost, low damage spell it shouldn't so this little damage. Sain pushed Miriel behind him as she casted 'Fortified Barrier' onto him to withstand some damage. Unlike 'Cracked Barrier' that only negate damage which could be powerful at a later point, 'Fortified Barrier' was more stable and useful since it could withstand multiple hits over time.

Eden landed on the ground and Sain moved his spear to intercept, since Eden was unarmed he had the advantage. Oh he was wrong.

“Golden Sword.”

A Golden Sword appeared in the hands of Eden when Sain initially stabbed his spear at him which was dodged quite quickly and easily as well.

STAB!

The Golden Sword went into his chest with much shock of rather why didn't he think Eden would use that sword in the first place. His gaze could not help but to drop to Eden's waist where there was another sword.

'So the Eden back then also used a sword...?'

As the Golden Sword was in him, Eden pushed Sain aside who no longer had any strength as he was dying and fired off a couple of fireballs at Miriel. Miriel tried to counter attack using 'Ice Bolts' but like the spells before, it didn't work as well on Eden.

“Lesson number one here is that magic is ineffective against someone like me. A 50% magic resistance on this body makes it so that mages have more than a bad time against me. Though in any case, combined with my high defence, it just makes it more difficult for you.”

Saying that, he pulled the Golden Sword out of Sain's chest and chopped his head off again before in the next instant, Sain was revived like that with a cough due to the shock of dying like that.

Bang!

He felt Eden kick him away in the next moment as well. Another loud noise and Miriel was sent flying to where he was as well coughing up blood due to the large impact. Before he knew it, the rest of the group were gathered like this on the ground, sliding from being kicked or thrown here.

“Is this all?” asked Eden in an even more disappointed tone. Alexandra sighed and said, “Three against one and they couldn't even manage one hit in. Their fighting styles are so rough and unbalanced that they were pretty much attacking one by one to me.”

Viv then added, “The girl has nearly no attack spells other than that Blood Magic which was disappointing even though it felt powerful and the other was simply minor cutting spell.”

“Well then, were they crushed due to all of that or not?” asked Eden to the group.

Sain looked at the three of them. He clearly felt the difference between himself, with the others and them.

Even though they fought together against them who fought alone, they could not win. Whether it was in stats, skills or the use of them, he was sure they were better than them in that.

But in the use of magic, swords and fighting in general they were significantly weaker than those three. From what he saw, Eden was a mix between using magic and close combat, Alexandra was purely close combat user and Viv was purely a magic user.

All three of them were the dominating types in terms of how they fought. Basically they all fought like they were the main fighters between all three of them. Though it may be just that they had similar levels of strength, it felt like if one of them could not keep up then they would not get any action at all.

In that case, what were they missing?

Those three did not get this way from simple experience along, if it was that then they probably had more. Was it the difference in facing monsters stronger than them all the time? He heard that even from an early stage they had been fighting and killing stronger monsters all the time.

Teamwork? Skills? Stats?

What was it that let them do this? That thought was the only thing he could think of as they got up and tried again against these three monsters.

“Oh~ You took a bit longer to get up than I expected but it looks like you guys need to die a few more times” Eden said with a tone that let out no pity to them or any hesitation to kill them countless times.

xXx

Meanwhile at the other end of the master apprentice side...Gen sat with a cup of alcohol in his hands. He usually didn't drink but as a result of recent events, he had started once again. With him were five other people who were with the exception of one in their forties.

That exception was only him her twenties and was currently trying to stick a blade through his head without hiding that fact.

Well it might be because she was almost dead drunk that her efforts turned out like this. Personally he liked it since it made it easier for him to defend himself if not for the fact that being a bit drunk himself made it harder for him to defend himself. His hand shook more than usual when he blocked the some attacks that came at odd directions.

“I wonder how many times they have been beaten up, burnt, frozen and cut up in pieces...” wondered Mel in a far away tone. She was only thankful that it didn't leave physical scars but was more than worried about the mental scars they will have. All of these came from her own personal experience.

“Trust me, it is better to not think about it” advised Park opening another bottle to drink from. Today was a day where they really had no choice but to drink their worries away, or at least they wished to do.

Gen thought about the time when they went through that trial...to be precise it was only five of them at the time though Anna went through it alone later on. For all their skills and abilities they were utterly trashed beyond hell.

One of them had the magic power to blow them into pieces on no end, the second had the sword skill to blow them away and the last had the magic skills to dominate them all without moving a finger.

Furthermore all of them were highly skilled at CQC or Close Quarter Combat even at that point. Even that Viv who was at the time a pure magic user.

“Might as well think about it since there is nothing else to do but worry about” mumbled Gen shaking his cup for more liquor. That Trial was an even more cruel one than the first where it showed you your worse nightmares. It kicked you down and continued to kick you down even when you realise how much of a small fish in the ocean you were.

First will come the shock of dying so many times and yet still living, then it will be the confidence you may actually make it through, that is until later on when you still can't even land a clean hit in on them you start to despair and give up. Each time it takes greater efforts to get up...

“Speaking of that, the younger versions of those three are quite different from the ones who know” said Ron picking up the conversation.

Jenny nodded in agreement but did not like the fact that she was agreeing with this flirting pervert and said, “Didn't they say they came from the really early days for them?”

“I think so but it has been decades since we did that damn trial” complained Park, “Can't remember everything.”

“True” said Mel but not admitting that she was that old, “But I feel like they had more energy and felt more carefree compared to now and when we first met them. Like nothing in the world could stop them from doing what they wanted.”

“Well that means things finally caught up to them and had to deal with it” said Gen with a slam of his cup that he noticed had a large crack on the side of it now.

“Hopefully they will be better off than us in the end...” Gen wondered in the end.

xXx

Around 10 minutes from the start of the trial.

“Lightning Fire Chain Strike!” shouted Eden charging head on at the group alone with no back up. His entire right fist was covered by fire and lightning. From what the group got from it was that it would both stun and burn you if you get hit.

The solution? Don't get hit, but that was easier said than done.

“Root Bind!” Serena chanted quickly tying up Eden's body in place. With him not moving, his attack wouldn't hit them you would think.

“Fire!”

All of a sudden the magic in his fist shot out like a regular fireball but still covered with lightning and hit Raven who blocked for Serena.

BOOOM!!!

Raven's shield broke and his body was blown away. He most likely died then and there else wouldn't be able to move anymore. The strangest thing was that rather than they were being revived when killed, it was more like their time reversed to a state where they were fully healed.

As such all broken equipment were recovered instantly on death as well.

“Charge!” Sain shouted along with Lyndis and Shadow with their weapons aimed at Eden who was still stopped by Serena's spell. Miriel had casted barriers onto each of them as well which would make it so they wouldn't be instantly randomly.

However....

“Flame Tower!”

From underneath her, flames blow up like a pillar and consumed her completely. It did not matter if she was resistant to flames as she would still take damage from such a spell. However even though Lyndis died then, Sain and Shadow still charged through.

“Flame Tower!”

“Like that'll work!” Shadow shouted speeding up using 'Burst Speed'. His agility was high enough that it looked like to Sain that a small sonic boom was happening. But at the same time Eden let out a smile..and a small fireball that moved ever so slowly...

“Fire Explosion.”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The impact of that explosion was large enough that it consumed both Shadow and Sain who was further back at the same time. They both fell to the ground grasping for air as they 'revived'. Even though their physical state was reverted, their mental state hasn't, no it compiled on with time and more deaths.

Sain did not see what happened next but he presumed that both Miriel and Serena died.

“Damn are you just using fire attacks to piss me off?!” complained Lyndis seeing Eden being much better than her in the field.

“....” Eden did not reply but rather stuck his tongue out at her continuing to mock her.

“Done yet?” asked Alexandra, “It's my turn to fight them now~”

Ever since the first dozen 'deaths' they sustained, the trio basically stopped attacking them all at once since it was boring and went on too quickly. Instead they rotated as they killed the group each time.

But if they 'revived' instantly, why don't they attack the next moment they die? The reason was that there was always this heavy pressure on their minds after they die and it was only getting heavier and harder to get up as they died more and more. This was most likely mental strain on their part.

“Well give them a chance to get up at least” said Eden with a lo laugh. He was looking down on them quite a lot since they died to them so many times.

xXx

Around 20 minutes from the start of the trial.

“Sword Wave!” shouted Alexandra blasting that wave of energy from her sword to the group.

BANG!

In that one blow, Raven, Miriel and Shadow were killed immediately which only left Sain, Serena and Lyndis left to face her. However even with three left, Alexandra almost instantly smashed through any defences they decided to place up.

xXx

Around 30 minutes from the start of the trial.

“Root Bind!”

From Serena's side came several vines that like a precise tool went towards Viv.

“Grow Roots!”

However from Viv's side came larger and much stronger and yet faster and more precise roots which conflicted and completely tore through Serena's spell. The roots impaled through her and tossed her aside.

“Serena!” Miriel shouted trying to catch her body through habit alone even though there was nothing to gain from it. She didn't even place a barrier around herself when the roots went through her as well.

“Flame Coating! Speed Strike!” Lyndis ignored what happened around her and focused her blade on taking down Viv. Her body sped up and went towards Viv dodging the other roots that he was manipulating, Sain counted to be only 7 at a time right now.

“Let strength gather and become the wind! Swift Legs!” Sain decided to help her and casted this spell which caused her speed to increase by a third from the stat gain alone.

When it seemed that Lyndis was finally about to get a hit in, Viv raised his hand and chanted, “Magic Arrows!”

A series of rapid attacks came from that hand and hit Lyndis like machine gun fire. Sain was honestly surprised, he did not know you could do that with the 'Magic Arrow' spell to make it rapid fire instead of multi-shot instead.

However the thought of learning something new and being happy about it stopped when he was 'gunned down' as well.

xXx

Around 40 minutes from the start of the trial.

“Your reaction speed is too slow!”

The blade cut off his arm and several more stabbed into Sain's body in one go. The others had died from the spells that Eden thrown at them. Sain could not believe that Eden was using a different spell each time he casted.

How many spells does he know?

Either way, now was the time to focus even though this wasn't going to work period.

“Evil Rule Art: Astral Bind!” he chanted creating ropes with his mana and wrapped them around Eden in a snap.

SNAP!

And like a snap as well, the ropes were broken free with brute strength. This 'First Seal Release' thing he used is really annoying. It even drained his mana so he couldn't use a more powerful spell at all within seconds.

“Well at least you tried” said Eden as he killed Sain again.

He had died without doing anything again.

xXx

Around 50 minutes from the start of the trial.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

A series of chained explosions made of wind and ice consumed them all and they all died like that.

xXx

Around 60 minutes from the start of the trial.

The group got up again after being beaten down by one of the trio once again. How many times has this happened? It was at least a hundred times now, no-it could have reached a few hundreds by now.

They did not even need to spend more than a few seconds to take them out. It was becoming more like a sport to the trio on how to take out the group.

It was then, that Eden said all of a sudden, “We're around the half mark time. You know that this will become harder right? I mean the three of us have been holding back a bit so you know what was happening.”

“....”

The group did not speak. If they could speak than they could be spending more time to regain their mental strength.

“Anyway time to do this. Body Transformation!”

All of a sudden, Eden's hair turned silvery white, eyes to a blood golden colour as his body morphed into a indescribable monster. It looked to be a mix of several species into one when Sain analysed it using his 'All Knowing Eyes'.

“Wait a second!” Shadow blurted out, “Weren't you suppose to transform into a Dragon?!”

“Hmm? I might be later on. Nice of you to speak to me again, I'll kill you last” replied Eden.

“Well that's a nice thing to do, considering it's you of all people to say that” said Alexandra. Eden raised his eyebrow and asked, “What is really your problem about my killing methods?”

“Besides the fact like it was heavily inspired and came out of a horror film?”

“You chop people into pieces!”

“You blow them up!”

Hearing these insults fly at each other Viv said half jokingly, “At this rate you two will get married.”

““Like hell we will!!!””

Both of them shouted that at Viv but then Sain remembered something he didn't tell them before.

“Actually both of you do get married” he offhandedly said in a casual manner.

“See” said Viv pointing that out.

““WHAT?!”” Both Eden and Alexandra screamed that at once and pointed at each other before saying both at once:

“I get married to this beast?!” “I get married to this avatar of traps?!”

Both of them glared at each other before shouting again at the same time to each other.

“Who the hell is a beast?!” “Who the hell is an avatar of traps?!”

“You are!” “You are!”

“....”

The group was honestly surprised to see those two not get along that well. Even though they said that they fought a lot in their early days, they did not expect that to be true and moreover to this extent that they did not even like to be compared to each other.

“Damn you!” “Damn you!”

Eden started to use a spell at Alexandra of all things saying, “Flame Stri-”

But Alexandra was faster, “SWORD WAVE!!!”

BANNNNNGGGG!!!

And Eden was blasted away.

“....”

The group looked on in sheer shock. What the hell just happened in front of them.

“Ow ow ow, that really hurts you know!” shouted a bloodied up Eden before Alexandra with a 'Hmp' sent over some healing spells.

“Wait why didn't you instant heal like usual?” asked Lyndis forgetting that this Eden was a younger version and was different from the one they knew.

“Instant healing?” wondered Eden before saying, “That might be handy one of these days. Tell me more about this, it might save by life one day from this beast” while gesturing at Alexandra.

However Viv stepped in between Eden and the group saying, “Remember, we are here to kill this group over and over again.”

“....”

Eden was silent on this but sighed in the end saying, “You are too serious Viv. I miss the really shy you that blushed whenever I talked to you~”

“Another word about that and this time I'll be the one to attack you” said Viv threatening Eden a bit though he had an innocent blush on his face. Several people including and especially Lyndis did not expect Viv to have that kinds of expression on his face.

“By the way” said Eden all of a sudden to the group, “You can give up any time you know. Let us know when.”

“....”

The group did not respond. They had no intentions of surrendering that easily.

“Anyway hurry up and fight them Viv” said Eden seeing the group seemed to have refused. That might change after a couple hundred more deaths though.

“Hey! It's my turn now” Alexandra immediately started complaining to the fact her turn was just skipped like that.

“You attacked me, you get your turn skipped” said Eden in a calm tone though it was very apparent that he was grinning, “But it's not like it will take even a short while until your turn in up again right?”

Alexandra looked at the group and then said, “Fine....”

If anyone in the group had the strength to, they would complain but in the end, what was said was the truth, and the truth was that they could be taken out quite easily.

xXx

Around 70 minutes from the start of the trial.

“How much more than you endure this? Your speed is dropping and your attacks are slipping~!” shouted Alexandra in a frenzy. It seemed something in her clicked and turned her like this.

Her sword flashed white and it seemed that her sword went faster and faster with time even if they learnt how to parry them a bit.

They all died again.

xXx

Around 80 minutes from the start of the trial.

“Oh, you would hit me if not for the fact that you missed! Grand Fireball!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

They all died again.

xXx

Around 90 minutes from the start of the trial.

Got cut up into pieces again and died.

xXx

Around 100 minutes from the start of the trial.

“This is getting boring real fast so I'm going to crush you...”

A giant ice hammer appeared...oh the irony....not!

xXx

Around 110 minutes from the start of the trial.

Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.

There was nothing to do but die at this point.

xXx

Around 119 minutes from the start of the trial.

“Hey hey” said Alexandra slapping the cheek of Lyndis who did not respond at all to the 'attack'. She was not even conscious anymore and was simply out of it due to extreme exhausting of doing this for two hours without rest.

With the mental strain of dying and having your body recover but not your mind stack on so many times, in the thousands of times, even a powerful will will deteriorate and stop eventually.

Likewise the rest of the group was knocked out like this and Sain was barely holding on due to 'Bursting Will' which did not let him go since there was a giant treat in front of him....this skill helped him in the background in the past lots of times but only now did he curse having it.

Why couldn't he sleep like the others in this kind of situation? He did not want to face these guys...but since they were unconscious...

Did this mean he could really let it all go now?

No more caring about them.

No more thinking about them.

Only to focus on himself and this task.

Should the 'black' come out to play?

“Oi, there's something wrong with that one” Viv pointed out at Sain, “Feels like your energy is coming out of him.”

“Hmm....really?” asked Eden looking down on Sain who was still on the ground but then realised it and said, “Wow, didn't think there would be someone else with this seal on them.”

Seal? What seal? Did he mean the 'Mark' that had already spread across his right arm completely? How was that a seal?

But before he could think of it more, Eden kicked him and made him roll on the ground a few times.

'Damnit....!'

He had no strength to move anymore. Even if he was stupid and tried to use 'Mankai' it would be a complete waste since the costs will be too high for the benefits it would give. Sain had no idea on what to do.

What was he missing? Even now he did not know the hell he was missing that made him and the others weaker than those three.

Their stats are lower, skills proficiency as well and even their experience is lower than theirs and yet they could not win no matter what!

“119 minutes in...I guess with this you all fail” said Eden looking down at Sain as he said these words and casually walking back to the other two.

“Well that just means you were never useful in the end” he continued to say, “Though it was still a good effort even with no results.”

Good effort?

What the hell did that matter? The results were everything, he knew this and knew that if they failed at this critical point...they would all be kicked out of the guild.

That can never happen! He would not let the others have to suffer through that! Without being in the guild so much resources will be out of their reach, without being in it, they will lose the support of Eden!

That would truly be the end.

What was he missing to solve this?

“Everything from the moment you all came here did not matter since you all seemed to be too distracted to fight us properly.”

What...did it matter? They had the resolve. They had all the training they needed to clear this...no matter what.

At the very least, he did not want to disappoint them!

Condition to add further effects to the skill 'Bursting Will' has been completed

Bursting Will Intermediate Level 1

One's will to do something even if it cost you your life. Increases all stats by a certain extent while in a deep crisis for some brief couple of seconds while in danger and afterwards. Due to overwhelming will, the body can be forced beyond it's ability temporary based off the emotional state of the user.

All Stats increase by: 25%

Sain ignored this message except that he could probably move now. It was a now or never situation literally.

He got up allowing for Alexandra and Viv to have a surprise look on their faces before charging at Eden.

“Die!” he shouted before attacking.

“Don't scream out your attacks idiot.”

STAB! STAB! STAB!

Three golden sword stabbed him in the leg, arm and chest vertically pinning him there like a statue. He could not move, Eden's back was still there...!

“Points for the efforts at the end though I doubt you will be able to get up after being revived one last time” said Eden though not even turning around. Did he underestimate him that much?

“Cough.”

Sain could not help but to cough up some blood due to his body being in a poor state. Eden was walking away again. They will fail...

NO!

STAB!

“Eh?”

The one who let out that sound was Eden. Sain's spear from the back through the chest...finally reached him for the first time.

“NOW!” Sain thought he heard Miriel shout that while at the same time causing ice to climb up on Eden's legs.

“Gravity Force!” Sain also thought he heard Raven say that and use the skill he got using 'Boost' onto Eden making it harder for him to move.

“Sage Mode! Grow Roots!” Sain again thought he heard Serena use her powered up spell to wrap vines around Eden and tightened to the point that he was not sure it could split a man.

“Genesis Flames!” Sain now sure he was not be delusional about this saw that Lyndis created swords of flames and stabbed it in the arms that were trying to break the rest of him free.

“Finish him!” Miriel ordered though Sain thought he was the leader here.

He saw that Shadow was using his 'Real Illusions' to split himself into three and stabbed his weapons into Eden at places he presumed were critical or fatal points.

Seeing this, even though he could not see it, Sain felt that Eden was grinning right now.

“Ah~ I screwed up~!” Eden said in a monotone voice that was not funny at all, “Looks like I have to give a pass to you then~” he continued to say. With those words, his body started to disappear in particles and so did the other two as well.

The golden sword in Sain disappeared as well and his wounds were healed? What was going on here.

Alexandra sighed at Eden during this and said, “You let them do that didn't you” with a look that more or less saw through him completely.

Eden looked back at Alexandra and said, “And you didn't stop them at all” with a look that said 'I don't know what you are talking about'.

“Wait, what the hell are you talking about?!” asked Lyndis in a loud tone. Her voice drew attention from the trio again.

“By the way good work on getting up at the last moment” replied Eden to Lyndis though not answering the question at all.

“You didn't move at all after Sain stabbed you with his spear. What was up with that?” asked Miriel. It seems that she thought Eden threw in the towel with pity. She did not like that idea.

“I have no idea what you are talking about” Eden tried to make a gesture using his arms but there were swords of flames in them right now.

“So basically you three have been killing and killing us so many times I can't even count and suddenly you let us go with mercy? What was the point of winning like this?!” asked Shadow in a heavy and angry tone.

It was then that Viv said, “The point was never about winning. If so, we wouldn't be called here.”

“Then what was it?”

“Well....” Viv tilted his head like he didn't know the answer.

“Well I didn't want their efforts being wasted like that. I'm not that cruel to let someone work so hard and kick them out for something like that” said Eden who was now free from the after effects of the group's combined attacks.

The group felt that Eden was definitely the type of person he just said he wasn't. Oh how much he changed between the one they saw and the one they knew...

“Anyway...” He went next to the trio and faced the group as if to say something to them.

“But if you gave up mid way or before the end, then you would have definitely failed this trial” he said laughing though added, “Well I had no idea on what to do if you guys didn't do that last ditch effort in the end and instead stayed dead like that.”

He continued to laugh, “llyfr would definitely scowl at me for not thinking it through.”

“Well duh, most of the stuff you do is stupid” said Alexandra in a condescending tone to him. Even though it was extremely small, Sain thought he saw a mutual thrust between the two. And one day that trust would...

“Anyway it looks like you guys found what you were missing” said Eden.

“Missing?” asked Lyndis though Sain knew he was talking about.

“Whether it'll be a goal, a wish, an ideal or any other of the crap people believe in, without it, people are simply unable to express their true abilities to the fullest” Eden continued to say, “The purpose of this trial is to test that resolve, that desire that keeps you moving and makes you get up every time we kill you.”

“Well duh, most of the stuff you do is stupid” said Alexandra in a condescending tone to him. Even though it was extremely small, Sain thought he saw a mutual thrust between the two. And one day that trust would...

Eden turned his head and looked at Sain and the rest of the group realising the time was up, “Well I wish you luck dealing with the future me~” before disappearing with the other two with happy smiles that they had never seen on their faces until now.

“....”

“....”

There was a deep silent as the group stood there not sure on what to do now.

“Wait, what the hell are we suppose to do now?” asked Shadow on the question that was on everyone's minds.

They finished the trial so...how the hell do they get out of this large room? And what happened to the rewards and so on?

Onwards?PreviousExitNext

Author's Notes:

- Word Count: 8000~

- This was...an interesting battle for me at least. I even had to compare the notes I made a year ago to figure out the Trio's power level and just decided to write what I felt would happen if both sides met and fought....yeah. The Trio was really that overpowered.