Chapter 369: Second Self?!

Atlas could be seen floating in an empty white space, his eyes wandering around as he tried to find anything that stood out. However, no matter where he looked, everything remained completely white.

There were no walls, pillars, or any other structures that could help him determine where he was. It was as though the space itself had been painted white, and after erasing the information imposed upon reality, he had somehow found himself in this strange place.

’My suspicion was right. It was information forced upon reality.’ Atlas looked around once more before narrowing his eyes slightly. ’But is this another layer of information?’ After considering the possibility, he shook his head, knowing that he had already erased all the information, regardless of how many layers it contained, down to nothingness.

’Then where exactly am I?’ Just as he questioned that, a voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire white space.

"Impressive, Challenger Atlas Mariorett." Atlas frowned as he tried to determine where the voice was coming from, but even after pushing his Logic Alteration of senses and perception to its limits, he couldn’t pinpoint its origin.

"Who is it?" he asked, his gaze sweeping across the empty surroundings as he continued searching for the source of the voice. The space remained completely silent for a moment before the same deep voice spoke again.

"There is no need to be on edge. You have passed the First Trial of the test, and this is the Second Trial, which has already begun." Atlas frowned slightly at those words.

’The Second Trial?’ He remained silent as he considered whether the voice belonged to someone on Oriendar’s level, but after thinking about it for a brief moment, he shook his head, ’Forget it. It doesn’t matter who this person is. I only need to pass the trial and return.’

"What’s the Second Trial about?" Atlas asked, prompting the voice to answer immediately. "The First Trial was meant to determine how much you were willing to bear on your own. Simply put, you were forced to choose between two options."

"However, you chose neither, and that was the correct answer, which allowed you to pass the trial." The voice explained the purpose behind the previous challenge while Atlas listened without showing much of a reaction.

"The Second Trial will also be psychological rather than a battle against an opponent. I will ask you two different questions. They may be riddles or simple questions, but regardless of their nature, you must provide the correct answers."

The voice paused briefly before continuing, its tone remaining as calm as before, "If you answer both questions correctly, you will pass. If you fail, however, you will remain trapped within this test forever, until you can answer them."

After a short pause, the voice continued, as though carefully observing Atlas’s reaction to its words. "And if you pass, you will receive a reward, something that can make you even stronger." Atlas finally nodded after hearing the explanation, lowering his head slightly as he considered the situation.

He then immediately activated his Logic Alteration and altered the logic governing his comprehension speed, increasing it a thousandfold. However, just as he did so, he frowned and lifted his head upon realizing something was wrong.

"No, cheating is not allowed here. This space keeps most of your abilities in a dormant state, though... you possess certain abilities that have somehow remained active." Atlas looked ahead with narrowed eyes before slowly exhaling.

’It can’t be helped, then. It is what it is.’ Since he couldn’t force the space to allow him to use his abilities freely, he decided to proceed without further attempts. "Alright, ask me the questions."

A long silence settled over the entire space before the deep voice finally returned. It began reciting the first riddle, each line echoing through the empty surroundings.

"What is born in black, yet dressed in white?

What fades with age, beyond one’s sight?

What time may bury, yet cannot erase?

What leaves its echo in an empty space?

What once was lived, but now lies behind,

Yet lingers forever within the mind?"

Atlas frowned as he found himself confused by the question, but he carefully processed each line rather than rushing to an answer. His mind immediately began examining the possible meanings behind the words, searching for something that could connect all six lines.

’He didn’t mention any time limit, which means I can take as long as I need to answer once I figure it out.’ After reaching that conclusion, he focused on the first line. ’Something born black and dressed in white?’

He continued examining the clues one by one, trying to understand what they represented. ’Fades with age... beyond one’s sight. Time may bury it, but it cannot erase it...’ Atlas gradually closed his eyes as he concentrated on finding the answer rather than treating the words as an ordinary question.

He repeated each line within his mind, attempting to connect their meanings, until the final line suddenly caught his attention, ’Yet lingers forever within the mind...!’

Atlas’s eyes snapped open as he looked upward, a clear answer finally forming in his mind. "It’s Memory." The moment he answered, the voice fell completely silent, as though it were judging how he had managed to comprehend the riddle so quickly.

Atlas remained where he was, patiently waiting for a response rather than asking whether his answer was correct. After a brief pause, the deep voice finally spoke again.

"You are correct, memory is the right answer." The voice sounded impressed once more, though its tone remained composed. "That was impressive, but the final question still remains. Let us see whether you can answer that one just as quickly."

Atlas narrowed his eyes slightly as he prepared himself for the next challenge, keeping his attention fixed on the voice.

Without wasting any more time, the voice began reciting the second riddle.

"I exist before I am known,

Yet countless versions of me are shown.

I cannot be changed, yet I change with the seer,

And vanish the moment certainty draws near.

The wise may seek me for all their days,

While fools proclaim me in countless ways.

I need no witness to remain what I am,

Yet without a witness, who knows what I am?"

Atlas paused completely upon hearing the riddle, his expression growing more serious than before. ’What sort of riddle is this? Just processing it seems difficult...’ He didn’t allow himself to dwell on that thought any further and instead focused entirely on understanding the meaning behind the words.

Closing his eyes as he had done with the previous riddle, he began examining each line individually, searching for a connection that would lead him to the answer.

Several minutes passed as Atlas continued trying to comprehend the entire riddle, yet the more he thought about it, the more difficult it seemed to become. Even with his vast experience and intelligence, his mind began to feel as though it were about to burst from the effort of processing the question.

’This is difficult. I have never encountered riddles before this...’ He continued thinking, trying to find a possible answer, but nothing seemed to fit all the clues at once. Just as he was about to delve deeper into his thoughts, another voice suddenly sounded from within him.

’Do you want to know the answer? Isn’t it time you remembered me?’ The familiar voice caused Atlas to frown, as he recognized the sound immediately. For a brief moment, he wondered whether he was hallucinating, hearing his own voice speaking from somewhere within himself.

However, before he could dismiss the possibility, something suddenly struck his mind, reminding him of a part of himself he had nearly forgotten after reaching the Emperor rank.

’My second self?!’