Chapter 143: legacy Trial II

Alex stared at it.

"You’re kidding me."

The guardian spoke calmly.

"Your opponent has been chosen."

Alex tightened his grip on his greatsword.

"What’s its rank?"

The guardian looked at him.

"Rank 4."

Alex’s face immediately changed.

"Rank 4?!"

He pointed at himself.

"I’m Rank 2!"

"I know."

"Then why the hell am I fighting a Rank 4?"

The guardian’s expression remained unchanged.

"Because strength is not the only thing this trial measures."

Alex stared at the massive armored creature.

’I’m going to die.’

The thought immediately crossed his mind.

But then he remembered the Forest Sin.

He had already fought a Rank 3 monster despite being only Rank 2.

He had survived that battle by pure luck.

Now he was being asked to fight something even stronger.

Alex slowly smiled.

"Fine."

He lowered his greatsword.

"If that’s what I have to do..."

Flames suddenly erupted around his body.

His golden armor began glowing with intense heat.

"Then I’ll fight."

The guardian’s eyes flashed with interest.

"Begin."

The moment those words were spoken, the stone warrior disappeared.

Alex’s eyes widened.

"Too fast!"

Boom!

A massive fist slammed into his chest.

Alex was sent flying across the chamber.

He crashed into the ground and rolled several times before stopping.

"Ugh..."

He coughed and looked down at his armor.

A large dent had appeared across his chest.

’That one attack almost broke my armor.’

The stone warrior appeared in front of him again.

Alex quickly rolled away.

Boom!

The ground where he had been standing exploded.

Alex jumped backward and raised his greatsword.

"Fire Drake!"

A powerful roar echoed through the chamber.

Flames erupted around Alex.

"Fire Incarnation!"

His body was instantly covered in golden flames.

His physical strength increased dramatically.

Alex charged forward.

"Take this!"

His greatsword swung toward the guardian’s warrior.

Clang!

The sword struck the creature’s armor.

But it barely moved.

Alex’s expression changed.

’My attack didn’t even make it flinch.’

The stone warrior raised its fist.

Alex immediately jumped backward.

Boom!

The fist missed him by a few centimeters.

Alex gritted his teeth.

’I’m completely outmatched.’

The warrior charged again.

Alex didn’t retreat.

Instead, he rushed toward it.

The guardian watching from the side narrowed his eyes.

Alex ducked beneath the warrior’s attack and swung his greatsword toward its leg.

Clang!

The blade struck the armor.

This time, a small crack appeared.

Alex’s eyes widened.

’I can damage it.’

The warrior looked down.

Alex smiled.

"Found it."

He immediately focused his attacks on the same location.

Slash!

Slash!

Slash!

Each strike landed against the damaged area.

The warrior attempted to counterattack, but Alex continued moving around its legs.

He didn’t try to overpower it.

He focused entirely on avoiding its attacks and attacking the same weak point.

The guardian watched silently.

After several minutes, the crack became larger.

Finally—

Crack!

The armor around the warrior’s knee shattered.

The massive creature staggered.

Alex’s eyes lit up.

"Got you!"

He jumped into the air.

All of the flames surrounding his body gathered around his greatsword.

"Golden Flame Slash!"

A massive arc of golden fire descended.

Boom!

The attack struck the warrior’s damaged leg.

The entire leg shattered.

The Rank 4 warrior fell to one knee.

Alex landed several meters away, breathing heavily.

"How do you like that?"

The warrior slowly raised its head.

Its blue eyes suddenly became brighter.

Alex’s smile disappeared.

"Wait..."

The entire chamber began shaking.

The guardian finally spoke.

"The first phase is complete."

Alex looked at him.

"First phase?"

The guardian nodded.

"You have demonstrated courage and adaptability."

Alex’s expression became uneasy.

"But?"

The guardian looked toward the fallen warrior.

"But you have yet to prove your will."

The warrior’s broken leg suddenly began rebuilding itself.

Stone and blue energy gathered together.

Within seconds, the shattered limb was completely restored.

Alex stared in disbelief.

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

The warrior slowly stood.

Its aura became even stronger than before.

The guardian’s voice echoed through the chamber.

"The true trial begins now."

Alex tightened his grip on his greatsword.

His body was exhausted, and his flames were beginning to weaken.

Yet he didn’t retreat.

He took a deep breath.

"Fine."

His golden flames erupted once again.

"I’ve already come this far."

Alex pointed his sword at the warrior.

"I’m not leaving empty-handed."

The warrior rushed toward him. Alex tried to block the attack with his sword, but the impact sent him flying. He crashed heavily into the wall and coughed up blood.

But he didn’t give up.

Alex continued fighting.

The battle became more brutal with every passing minute.

The Rank 4 stone warrior was clearly stronger than him in every aspect. Its attacks were faster, its body was tougher, and its strength was far beyond Alex’s.

Yet Alex refused to give up.

Boom!

Another punch struck him and sent him crashing into the ground.

Alex slowly pushed himself up.

Blood was flowing from his mouth, and his armor was already heavily damaged.

He raised his greatsword again.

"Come on..."

The stone warrior charged toward him.

Alex barely managed to dodge the first attack, but the second strike hit his shoulder.

Crack!

His arm broke.

Alex gritted his teeth in pain.

But instead of retreating, he switched his greatsword to his other hand.

"One arm is enough."

The guardian silently watched the battle.

Alex continued fighting.

He was beaten down again and again, but every time he fell, he forced himself back up.

Eventually, another attack struck his leg.

Crack!

His leg broke.

Alex fell to one knee.

His breathing became rough, and blood covered his body.

The stone warrior raised its fist.

Alex looked up at it.

His body was barely able to move.

Yet his eyes remained determined.

He tightened his grip around his greatsword.

"I can still fight."

He forced himself to stand.

The guardian’s expression remained calm as he watched Alex continue.

Alex’s other arm was soon broken as well.

His remaining leg was badly injured.

He could no longer move properly, but he still refused to surrender.

He dragged himself across the ground and swung his greatsword whenever he got the chance.

Most of his attacks were no longer powerful enough to seriously damage the stone warrior.

But Alex kept attacking.

He wasn’t fighting because he believed he could win anymore.

He was fighting because he refused to give up.

The battle continued.

Minutes passed.

Then more time passed.

Alex’s flames had almost completely disappeared.

His greatsword slipped from his hand several times, but he kept picking it back up.

Eventually, even his consciousness began fading.

The stone warrior raised its fist once more.

Alex tried to stand.

His body refused to move.

He fell forward.

His greatsword dropped from his hand and struck the ground with a loud clang.

Alex’s eyes slowly closed.

His body finally collapsed.

The guardian looked at the unconscious Alex for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

"Test of Will... complete."

He raised one hand.

A powerful wave of energy immediately spread throughout the chamber.

The moment it reached Alex, the wounds covering his body began healing.

His broken bones were restored.

His torn muscles repaired themselves.

The blood covering his body slowly disappeared as his injuries healed at an incredible speed.

Even his damaged armor began repairing itself.

Within moments, Alex’s battered body had been completely restored.

The guardian lowered his hand.

Alex remained unconscious on the ground.

"His strength may be lacking," the guardian said calmly, "but his will is strong."

He looked toward the unconscious young man.

"Perhaps he is worthy of continuing the trial."