Chapter 210: Test

Kaiser looked across the empty grassland again.

There was no visible structure, no ancient monument, and no apparent sign of a test. The place seemed so ordinary that it was difficult to believe it had once been home to Gods.

Still, the woman had already demonstrated that this realm was capable of interfering with his connection to the Cosmic System. Whatever remained here was clearly beyond his current understanding.

He let out a quiet sigh.

"So, there’s a test involved after all."

[Hehe. Thou art learning, mortal.]

Kaiser shook his head at her amused response.

"Of course there is. Nothing ever comes for free."

[Thou hast a sharp mind, at least. Many who arrive here would have accepted my offer without asking a single question, blinded by the promise of power. Thou, however, seekest to understand what thou art about to receive before making thy choice.]

Her voice returned to its earlier calmness.

[That is a quality I value. Power without judgment is merely another means of bringing ruin upon oneself.]

Kaiser crossed his arms.

"That’s enough praise. Tell me what I need to do."

For a brief moment, the woman said nothing.

Then the grass beneath Kaiser’s feet began to tremble.

He immediately looked down as faint golden lines appeared across the ground, spreading outward in every direction. They moved through the grass like streams of light, forming intricate patterns that extended far beyond what he could see.

The seemingly ordinary landscape began to change.

A low hum spread through the air, and the golden lines gradually rose from the ground, forming enormous symbols that floated above the grassland. Each symbol carried an unfamiliar pressure, as though it contained a fragment of a law that Kaiser had never encountered before.

He instinctively tightened his grip on the Radiant Sword of Light.

"What is this?"

[The first trial of the Remnant Legacy.]

The woman’s voice was no longer playful.

[Before I entrust thee with the remnants of the Forgotten Gods, thou must prove that thy will is strong enough to bear them. The knowledge preserved within this sanctuary was created by beings whose understanding of existence surpassed thine own. Shouldst thou attempt to inherit it without sufficient preparation, thy soul may be overwhelmed by what it cannot comprehend.]

Kaiser stared at the enormous symbols spreading across the grassland.

"So this test is about whether I can withstand the legacy?"

[Partly. Strength is important, but raw power alone shall not determine the outcome.]

[The Gods did not reach their heights through strength alone. They questioned the nature of existence, studied the laws that governed it, and forged their own paths through countless trials. If thou seekest to walk a path beyond the Cosmic System, thou must prove that thou art capable of doing more than relying upon the power it hath granted thee.]

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

That was an interesting point.

He had relied heavily on the Cosmic System to develop his strength. His class, talents, skills, attributes, and even many of his opportunities were connected to it. Although he often found ways to use them in unexpected ways, the foundation of his power still came from the system.

If he wanted to escape its restrictions, he would need another foundation.

One that belonged to him alone.

The golden symbols above the grassland suddenly converged, forming a massive circular formation in the distance. Its center shone with a light so bright that Kaiser had to narrow his eyes.

[Enter the trial, Kaiser Storm.]

The woman spoke his name clearly, leaving no doubt that she knew his identity despite his inability to access his status window.

[Within this trial, thou shalt face the path of the Gods. Prove that thou canst comprehend what they left behind, endure the burden of their knowledge, and remain true to thine own will.]

[Shouldst thou succeed, the Remnant Legacy shall be thine to inherit.]

[Shouldst thou fail...]

Her voice trailed off for a moment.

[Then this sanctuary shall remain forgotten, and thou shalt return to the world beyond with nothing but the memories of what thou hast witnessed here.]

Kaiser stared at the glowing formation.

’At least failure doesn’t seem to come with the threat of death.’

Still, he wasn’t foolish enough to assume the trial would be easy. The woman’s explanation suggested that the legacy contained knowledge created by the Gods themselves. Even a fragment of such knowledge might be difficult for a mortal to comprehend.

He took a slow breath and adjusted his grip on his sword.

"Fine. Let’s see what the Gods left behind."

Without waiting for another response, Kaiser began walking toward the formation.

As he crossed the grassland, the golden symbols around him started to glow more brightly, and an unfamiliar pressure settled over his body.

For the first time since arriving in the Age of the Forgotten Realm, Kaiser felt as though the sanctuary itself had turned its attention toward him.

And whatever awaited him within the trial, he would have to face it without the help of the Cosmic System.

’Ah, fuck! I’m still thinking about the system.’

Kaiser shook his head with a bitter smile.

’I guess she was right. I’ve become too dependent on it.’

Although he had always considered himself someone who could think independently, he couldn’t deny how much he relied on the Cosmic System. From checking his status and improving his attributes to acquiring new skills and strengthening his summons, the system had played a major role in his growth.

Now that he had been separated from it, he felt as though he had lost access to a significant part of his strength.

’Well, there’s no point complaining about it. If I really want to break free from its restrictions, I need to learn how to stand on my own.’

With that thought in mind, Kaiser stepped into the glowing formation.

The moment his foot touched the ground within the formation, everything changed.

A terrifying pressure descended upon him without warning, slamming into his body like an invisible mountain.

"Fuck!"

Kaiser barely had time to react before his knees buckled. His body trembled violently as the overwhelming pressure forced him down, and he suddenly felt as though every bone in his body was about to shatter.

A sharp pain spread through his chest.

"Khah!"

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splattered across the grass beneath him.

His fingers dug into the ground as he struggled to remain conscious.

’What the hell is this pressure?!’

Kaiser gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but the moment he attempted to move, the pressure intensified.

Crack!

A sharp sound came from his arm.

His eyes widened as he realized that one of his bones had fractured under the immense force pressing down on him.

’Are you kidding me? The trial has barely started!’

He immediately tried to summon his undead, hoping that Selene or Rachel could help him withstand the pressure.

Nothing happened.

He tried calling Ripple next, but there was still no response.

’Right. I can’t use them here.’

Kaiser cursed inwardly.

Without his Cosmic System, summons, or undead, he had no way to assess his current condition or determine exactly how much damage his body had sustained.

He could only rely on his own senses.

Taking a deep breath, Kaiser attempted to circulate the energy within his body. However, the pressure seemed to interfere with his movements, making even the simplest action incredibly difficult.

Then, he heard the woman’s voice.

[The first trial hath begun.]

Her calm announcement nearly made Kaiser spit out another mouthful of blood.

’You could have warned me first!’

[Thou must endure the pressure of the Divine Sanctuary. Only those who possess a sufficiently strong will may proceed to the next stage.]

Kaiser gritted his teeth.

"How long do I have to endure this?"

[Until thou canst stand beneath it without bending thy knees.]

Kaiser stared at the ground in disbelief.

’That’s it? I just need to stand up?’

It sounded simple enough, but the reality was entirely different. The pressure bearing down on him was so immense that even breathing had become a struggle.

He had no idea how long he could last in this condition.

However, one thing was certain.

If he remained on the ground, he would never pass the trial.

Kaiser planted both hands against the grass and slowly pushed himself upward. His arms trembled, and the fractured bone in his arm sent waves of pain through his body.

Before he could even raise his upper body, the pressure increased again.

BANG!

His body slammed back into the ground.

Another mouthful of blood escaped his lips.

For several seconds, Kaiser could only lie there, gasping for breath.

’This is ridiculous.’

He had fought monsters far stronger than himself, survived dangerous dungeons, and overcome countless difficult situations. Yet now, he couldn’t even stand up.

The worst part was that he couldn’t rely on his usual methods to solve the problem.

No Reconstruction.

No undead army.

No Cosmic System.

For the first time in a long while, he had to face a challenge with nothing but his own body and will.

Kaiser slowly clenched his fists.

’Fine. If I can’t rely on my usual strength, I’ll find another way.’

He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing.

Instead of immediately trying to resist the pressure, he began observing it.

The force pressing against his body felt uniform at first, but after concentrating for a while, he noticed something strange. The pressure seemed to fluctuate slightly whenever he tried to move, becoming heavier around the parts of his body that resisted it the most.

’Wait a minute... Is it reacting to my resistance?’

Kaiser wasn’t certain, but the possibility gave him an idea.

Instead of fighting against the pressure with all his strength, he relaxed his body as much as possible and slowly adjusted his posture.

The pain remained, and the pressure was still overwhelming. However, for a brief moment, he felt as though the force pressing down on him had become slightly easier to bear.

His eyes opened.

’So that’s how it works?’

He couldn’t be sure whether he had discovered the trial’s mechanism or simply imagined the change. Nevertheless, it was the only lead he had.

Kaiser took another breath and began trying again, carefully adjusting his body while paying attention to every fluctuation in the pressure.

It was a slow and painful process.

Every movement threatened to knock him back to the ground, and each failure left him with new injuries. Yet he continued, refusing to give up.

He had no idea how much time had passed when he finally managed to lift his upper body.

His arms shook violently, and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but this time, he didn’t collapse immediately.

Kaiser gritted his teeth and pushed himself onto one knee.

The pressure surged.

His entire body trembled, and the ground beneath his knee cracked.

"Just... a little more!"

With a desperate growl, he forced himself to straighten his back.

For a brief moment, he remained kneeling beneath the overwhelming pressure, barely able to keep himself upright.

Then he planted one foot firmly against the ground.

He had only one goal now.

To stand.