Chapter 229: End Of The Trial

The crimson dome surrounding Elias began to fracture.

Fine cracks spread across its surface, branching through the dense Aura until the entire structure shattered into countless particles. They drifted into the air like fireflies, glowing faintly before gradually fading away.

The battlefield fell silent.

Elias remained standing amid the ruined ground, his sword lowered at his side. The black mass that had once threatened to consume the village was gone, leaving behind only destruction and scattered fragments of earth.

He slowly lifted his head.

Above him, the morning sky stretched across the horizon, its pale light filtering through the thinning remnants of his Aura. The warmth touched his face, and for a moment, he simply stared upward, allowing himself to breathe.

’It is over...’

The earthen dome he had raised around Monica and Stella began to crumble.

Cracks appeared along its surface before spreading rapidly across the thick walls. The structure broke apart, and chunks of hardened earth collapsed outward, revealing the two women standing within.

Monica and Stella stepped out cautiously, their eyes moving across the devastated battlefield. Confusion filled their expressions as they searched for the Rotted, but their gazes soon settled on Elias.

The color drained from their faces.

His body was barely recognizable. Nearly half his skin had been melted away, while the crimson Aura covering the damaged areas resembled a second layer of flesh. His clothes were torn, and his breathing remained heavy despite the creature’s defeat.

"Elias!" they shouted in unison.

Both women rushed toward him.

Stella reached him first, catching his arm before his weakened legs could give way. Monica hurried to his other side, supporting him as they carefully lowered themselves around him.

"Are you alright?" Stella asked, her voice trembling.

"What happened to you?" Monica questioned, staring at the terrible condition of his body.

Elias looked between them.

Their worried expressions brought a faint smile to his face, and he let out a quiet chuckle despite the pain that accompanied the movement.

He raised his hands and gently patted their heads.

"I am fine..." he said.

Monica’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Fine? Look at yourself!"

Stella tightened her grip on his arm, as though afraid he might collapse if she let go. "You can barely stand!"

Elias chuckled again, then reached toward Monica and gently squeezed her cheek.

"And nothing happened to me. I am just melancholy about my home and wives..."

Monica stared at him, her expression caught between anger and relief.

Stella lowered her head, trying to hide the emotion gathering in her eyes. She had seen Elias charge toward the Rotted alone, and she had been unable to follow him. Now that he was standing before her, injured beyond anything she could have imagined, she could hardly believe he was still conscious.

Elias glanced at her and gently patted her head as well.

"I’m alright," he repeated.

Neither woman seemed convinced, but before they could question him further, footsteps sounded in the distance.

Natasha walked out of the safe house.

She had been waiting inside while the battle raged beyond the walls, listening to the tremors and distant impacts without knowing whether Elias would return. The moment the earthen dome collapsed, she hurried outside.

Now she rushed toward him.

Elias turned his head as she approached, and the sight of her familiar face softened his expression.

Natasha reached him and gently held his face between her hands. Her eyes were filled with sorrow as she examined his injuries, yet beneath that sadness was a happiness she could no longer conceal.

She leaned closer, looking directly into his eyes.

"Are you ready to go home?" she asked.

Elias smiled.

For a moment, he looked at the three women gathered around him. Monica and Stella were still supporting his body, while Natasha held his face with the tenderness he had come to cherish through countless repeated days.

The village, the cottage, the Rotted, and all the deaths he had witnessed seemed to recede into the distance.

He nodded.

"I am."

Right then, the world around him began to change.

The battlefield twisted into a chaotic mixture of colors, both beautiful and jarring. The ruined village stretched and distorted, its buildings dissolving into shifting shapes that seemed to fold into one another.

Elias felt the women holding him begin to separate.

Monica, Stella, and Natasha broke apart into glowing red particles. Their forms dissolved gently, without pain or fear, and the particles gathered in the air around him.

Elias watched as the lights drifted together.

They formed a tunnel stretching into the distance, its walls shimmering with countless red particles. The colors pulsed softly, drawing him toward the endless passage.

The three women had been the key.

Throughout the trial, he had struggled to remember his past and had focused entirely on the village, the Rotted, and the people he wanted to protect. Yet none except those three had asked him about the world beyond the village or the time that existed outside its repeating days.

From the beginning, they had been trying to wake him from this dream.

Elias took a step forward and entered the tunnel.

[Ding!]

[The Host has conquered the Trial of Lord!]

He continued walking.

The tunnel stretched endlessly before him, its glowing walls flowing past as though he were moving through a river of light. He could no longer feel the wounds that had covered his body, nor the exhaustion that had weighed down his limbs.

The system’s notifications appeared before him.

[Weapon Mastery: Sword — Elite I → Sword — Elite III]

[Weapon Aura: Sword — Tier IV → Sword — Tier VII]

Elias’s eyes widened slightly.

His sword mastery had advanced by two levels, while his Aura had reached its highest tier.

The notifications continued.

[The Host has learned new skills!]

[Earth Wall (D), Earth Spike (D), Quagmire (D), Flat Ground (D), Dust Cloud (D), Unnamed Sword Art (A), Aura Sense (A), Aura Invoking (A)]

Elias glanced at the list.

The earth spells he had practiced throughout the trial had become skills, while his swordsmanship and Aura abilities had also been recognized. His gaze lingered briefly on the unfamiliar Unnamed Sword Art.

He had developed his movements through countless battles and repeated attempts, but the system had now given that evolving style a formal place among his abilities.

Before he could examine the notifications further, another sound rang out.

[Ding!]

[Affection Rate is increasing!]

Elias furrowed his brows.

’What?’

The next notifications appeared one after another.

[Natasha Sephila’s Affection Rate: 54]

[Monica Ragnar’s Affection Rate: 41]

[Stella Crimson’s Affection Rate: 36]

[The Host can now inspect Monica Ragnar’s Destiny!]

Elias stared at the message for a moment.

"..." He sighed.

The system had chosen that moment to remind him of something else he could investigate, even after he had finally completed the trial.

Before he could think further, a blinding light filled the tunnel.

---

Olide stared at the group of five knights standing before him.

The underground hallway was quiet, its walls and ceiling visible because of the torches mounted throughout the hideout. The knights wore silver armor, and their presence made the narrow passage feel considerably smaller.

Himber, the tall knight at their head, stepped forward.

"You have hidden yourself quite well, Lord Olide," he said.

"That I have," Olide replied with a carefree smile.

Himber returned the smile, though there was little warmth in his expression.

"But I am afraid you are not the only one hiding here."

Olide tilted his head, feigning ignorance.

"Who else do you think is here?"

The tall knight’s expression turned cold.

"Let’s not play these games any further."

Olide continued looking at him innocently.

"What games?"

Himber stared at the merchant for a moment before glancing at the other four knights over his shoulder.

"Go check the place," he ordered.

The four knights began to move.

Before they could take even a single step, Olide reached toward the wall and touched its surface with his fingertips. Mana flowed from his hand into the concealed formations.

The hallway lit up.

Lines of magical symbols illuminated the walls, spreading in both directions as the formations awakened. A faint glow traveled across the ceiling and floor, revealing the intricate network hidden within the structure.

Olide’s carefree smile remained.

"I am afraid that I cannot let you do that."

Himber and the four knights looked around with wide eyes.

The tall knight’s expression tightened as he realized the situation.

"A mage," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Olide gave a small shrug.

"Indeed."

Himber’s gaze shifted toward the glowing walls, then returned to the merchant.

"We will return soon," he muttered.

He turned around, and the four worried knights followed him toward the staircase.

Olide watched them take a few steps.

"Now that you know where I live, I cannot allow that either," he muttered.

He glanced toward Greta and gave her a subtle nod.

The black-clad woman understood immediately.

Her daggers gleamed with yellow Aura as she drew them from their sheaths. She moved without hesitation, charging toward Himber before he and the other knights could reach the end of the hallway.

Himber turned at the sound of her approaching footsteps.

Greta lunged forward, raising both daggers and aiming for his torso.

The tall knight unsheathed his long sword.

Despite its enormous size, he swung it in a wide arc with astonishing ease. The blade swept across the narrow passage, forcing Greta to cross her daggers in front of her body.

The weapons collided, but Greta had Aura, so the winner was already decided.

A sharp metallic impact rang through the hallway.

Pain tore through Greta’s arms as the force of the strike drove her backward. Her feet skidded across the stone floor, and she staggered several steps before regaining her balance.

Olide’s eyes widened.

Greta stared at Himber in disbelief.

The yellow Aura surrounding her daggers flickered, while the knight stood calmly with his enormous sword resting in one hand.

Olide looked from Greta to Himber.

"How?" he muttered.

Himber grinned widely.

"Have you ever heard of Cursed Children?" he asked in a chilling tone.

He stepped forward and charged.

His tall figure moved with a speed that should have been impossible, closing the distance before Greta could fully recover. His long sword swept toward her again, forcing her to raise her daggers to defend herself.

"I am one!" he added.

Olide’s expression hardened as the meaning of Himber’s words settled in.

The knight’s unnatural strength and speed were no longer a mystery.

Olide snapped his fingers.

The formations across the hallway flared with light, and bindings of both light and darkness burst from the walls. They shot toward Himber from multiple directions, wrapping around his arms, legs, and torso before tightening around him.

The knight’s forward movement stopped abruptly.

Olide watched the bindings hold Himber in place, then forced a smile despite the grim expression on his face.

"I never thought I would meet one like this..." he mumbled.