Pain.

That was all I could feel.

Contrarily to the other Trial, the tenth trial's rule were simple.

'Endure the pain without moving'

It was simple, yet, it was by far the most difficult.

The time limit was one day. If I could endure the pain until then then I would have succeded.

But if I move even a little, the time will reset. Even the smallest cry was prohibited.

Moreover, differently from the first trial, here only the time reset.

The pain will grow stronger every hour, every minute, every second without stoping.

A normal person would have already lost their mind in my place.

No! A normal person wouldn't even arrive this far into the dungeon.

That was just how much difficult it was.

But I have to succeed.

I must.

Because I have a goal.

A goal I have to achieve no matter what.

That's why I can't lose myself here. Not yet.

★

I don't know how much time have passed but at long last, I have succeded.

[Congratulation, challenger. I din't think you could do it, but I'm grateful, really grateful]

In front of me was a skeleton seated in a throne.

It seems he was an undead.

“My name is Zero.You are?”

[As I said to you in the beginning, I am nobody interesting. And so is my name. My name was, in fact, so boring I forgot it]

“You forgot it....?”

[You see, I have been cursed by the god]

*

“!”

Zero was surprised by the confession of the squeleton.

‘Being cursed by the god. Is that like me?’

Zero questioned herself.

[A very long time ago, I have offended the god.

Since then, I was imprisoned in this place.

I kept wandering here without nothing to do.

At some point, my memory began to fade away.

But there is one thing I can't forget and that is my hate for these damn god.]

The anger that could be heard from the squeleton, Zero knew it very well.

So Zero asked,

“Do you want to kill the god?”

Without hesitation the squeleton responded.

[I need them dead. All of them. That was why I created this dungeon. Because I can't quit this place, I needed someone powerful enough to accomplish my will.]

“Do you want me to do it.”She added.

[Of course, I won't force you to do it. After all, the god are absolutely despicable.

They love tourmenting us mortal.]

“I know—”

Of course she knew it. She lived more than enough at the hands of the god to know their thought process.

‘The god love playing with us mortal.

For them we are just chess piece for their shitty little game.

They couldn't care less about our feeling’

“—And that is exactly why I want to kill them.”

Determination could be heard from Zero's feminine voice.

Moreover, firm conviction was transmitted through her eyes.

The squeleton couldn't help but laugh at her sight.

'This is it. How many years has it been since I waited for someone like her to come'

[Haha. This is great. Hahahahaha]

“....”

[Very well, Zero! If that is the case,I'll gladly give you my power.]

“Your power?”

[Have you ever heard of the seven deadly sins]

Hearing those word, Zero narrowed her eyes

The seven deadly sins are power of legend.

Wrath, pride, greed, gluttony, lust, sloth and envy.

Each of them were known as unique skill capable of destroying a country.

It was said in the past that if one were to be able to assemble all seven sin, one wouldn't even need to fear the god.

“They are forbiden power.”

However, no one was ever able to do so.

The first reason was, of course, because they were unfindable.

The second was because it was an unspoken rule in the whole world to not search for them.

After all, all sin holder known from history died in madness.

That was also why, they were considered as forbiden power.

[Indeed.

They are power that shouldn't be given to anyone.

The reason being is that, if you misshandle them, you might create a disaster without precedent.

Wrath is the power that I hold. It is the sin known as the most powerful of the seven.

However, even I might have lost it if I wasn't careful.

So, I'll ask just in case but, do you wish to obtain this wicked power?]

“If it can help me in my goal then, please”

A smile then appeared on the squeleton's face.

[Splendid! Then receive my power!]

Then the squeleton moved his hand in front of Zero.

Soon after, light wrapped her entire body.

★

The figure of a man could be seen in Zero's sight.

He has completely lost his mind.

His eye were red and he destroyed everything in his sight.

Human, beast. Elder, children. Man or woman.

He destroyed everything.

He could no longuer be seen as a human.

However, he wasn't similar to a monster either.

For the people people present, devil was the only way to describe him.

People tried to stop him but to no avail.

He continued his massacre without stopping.

What no one knew, though, was that he was also suffering.

For the people outside he seemed to have lost his mind, but that wasn't the case.

All the people he killed, all the thing he has destroyed, he could see it all, yet he couldn't do anything.

He tried to regain control over his body, but it was no use.

He wished to stop killing people. He begged for it. He cried for it.

But it was useless, because he has already sinned.

★

《You have acquired the skill 『Wrath』》

“What was that?”

[That is the fate of those consumed by wrath. You should be careful]

Zero threw a questioning look toward the squeleton, but received only a vague answer in turn.

She was unsatisfied with it, but she still nodded anyway.

[Concerning the other sins, pride, greed, lust and sloth's location are still unknown for me.

Envie should be in the Ganea kingdom. As for Gluttony, if you wish it, I can directly teleport you to where it is.]

“You can teleport me?”

[Hahaha. Of course, while I was out there I was doing pretty well in space magic you know? Plus, it's near this place.]

“Then I'm counting on you”

[Very well. But before that take this]

The squeleton handed a bracelet toward Zero

Zero concentrated on the object and then it's statut appeared.

Name: ???'s bracelet

Durability: ?

Rank: ?

Effect: ?

“This is?”

[It was one of my artifact when I was still alive. Consider it a farewell gift. You won't need it now, but in the future, it may save your life.]

“I see, thank you.”

Zero tried toput on the bracelet but a sudden question arised in her head.

“You said farewell?”

[As you know, the reason I wanted to stay alive was to search for someone who will accomplish my will. And here we are. I don't think I need to stay in this world any longer]

“...Thank you for your guidance.”

Zero was a little against the squeleton dying but, as it was his own will she couldn't do anything about it.

[It is I that need to thank you, Zero. You propably don't know how long I waited for someone like you to appear. To tell you the truth, I had already given up. That is why I need to say it clearly. Thank you very much, because of you, I can now rest in peace]

“.....”

Thank you.

To a normal person these two word might just be a common thing to say, but to Zero, who had only heard the cry and scorn from other people, these were precious word for her.

It was only normal for her to be surprised to hear them from somebody she just met.

[Zero?]

“I-it's nothing, I was just a bit surprised by your word.”

[They are nothing but the truth.]

“Is that...so?”

A small smile then appeared on Zero's face.

The squeleton was a little bewildered by it but soon he regained his composure.

[I think it's time now. Are you ready.]

Zero lightly nodded her head.

"Farewell, mister squeleton“

“Farewell, indeed, little girl.”

Then, Zero's figure disapeared as if it wasn't there to begin with.

[I believe in you, Zero]

With those as his last word, the squeleton's corps tranformed into dust and disappeared into the silent room.