Chapter 213: Test IV

Kaiser continued climbing the golden staircase, carefully studying each symbol along the way.

Some took only a few minutes to understand, while others forced him to spend hours examining their structures. As he progressed, the symbols became increasingly complicated, combining the principles he had learned from the previous steps into more advanced patterns.

Eventually, he reached the final section of the staircase.

Kaiser stopped and looked ahead.

There were only a few steps remaining, but the symbols carved into them were far more complex than anything he had encountered before. Each one contained countless interconnected lines and patterns, forming structures that seemed to represent several principles working together.

He had already spent an enormous amount of time studying the symbols, yet he could still remember the basic principles behind almost every one he had understood.

Kaiser looked at the remaining steps before shifting his attention to the small platform at the end of the staircase.

Unlike the previous steps, the platform contained no complicated patterns of its own. Instead, it was covered with several large symbols, each one different from the others.

After examining them for a while, Kaiser noticed something familiar.

"Wait a minute. Aren’t these the same symbols I saw on the previous steps?"

He leaned closer and began examining the patterns one by one.

Although the symbols on the platform were much larger, their structures were unmistakable. Every single one of them corresponded to a symbol he had encountered during the trial.

However, there was something different about their arrangement.

The symbols were connected to one another, forming a massive pattern across the entire platform. Some were positioned near the center, while others surrounded them in several layers.

Kaiser carefully followed the connections between them.

’So, all the symbols I studied earlier were parts of this larger formation?’

He had initially assumed that each step tested his understanding of a separate principle. Although the principles were connected, he hadn’t realized that they could all be combined into a single structure.

Now, looking at the platform, he finally understood what the trial had been leading him toward.

It was some kind of lock.

The symbols he had studied on the staircase were individual components, and the platform brought them together to form the complete mechanism.

Kaiser examined the arrangement for a while before slowly stepping onto the platform.

The moment his foot touched its surface, the entire formation began to glow.

Golden light spread across the symbols, illuminating them one after another. The lines connected to each symbol lit up as well, revealing how the different patterns were linked together.

Kaiser watched carefully.

He could recognize every individual symbol, but understanding them separately was no longer enough. He now had to understand how they interacted as parts of the same structure.

He crouched down and began examining the formation from the beginning.

The first symbol represented the balance between different forces. The second explained how separate structures could interact through shared connections. Other symbols had introduced different principles, each adding another layer to his understanding.

Kaiser recalled everything he had learned and began tracing the connections across the platform.

Gradually, the larger pattern started making sense.

The symbols weren’t simply arranged beside one another. Each one served a specific purpose within the formation, and the connections between them allowed the entire structure to function as a single unit.

He continued studying it until he reached the center of the platform.

There, surrounded by the other symbols, was a small circular pattern that he hadn’t noticed before.

Unlike the surrounding symbols, it contained no complicated lines or overlapping shapes. It was surprisingly simple, consisting of only a few marks arranged around an empty center.

Kaiser stared at it.

’Is this the key?’

He carefully examined the connections leading toward the circle. Every major section of the formation eventually linked back to it, yet the circle itself appeared to serve a different purpose from the other symbols.

After thinking for a while, Kaiser reached a conclusion.

The other symbols maintained the formation’s structure, controlled the interactions between its different parts, and kept everything in balance. But the central circle seemed to determine how all those principles worked together.

Without it, the formation might contain every necessary component and still remain incomplete.

Kaiser looked at the entire platform again.

"So, I need to understand the whole formation, not just the individual symbols."

He took a deep breath and began examining everything from the beginning.

This time, he no longer treated each symbol as a separate problem. Instead, he followed the flow of the entire formation, studying how one principle influenced another and how their combined effects eventually reached the center.

Several times, he thought he had found the answer, only to discover that his understanding was incomplete.

Each mistake forced him to reconsider his assumptions.

He continued working through the formation until, after an unknown amount of time, he finally understood how its different parts fit together.

The golden symbols suddenly shone brighter.

A deep vibration spread through the platform as the lines connecting them began to move. One by one, the symbols shifted into new positions, their connections rearranging themselves until the entire formation settled into a different pattern.

Then the central circle lit up.

Kaiser immediately raised his head.

The golden light gathered at the center before spreading outward across the platform. Every symbol responded, and the entire formation began operating as a single, unified structure.

A moment later, the light rose into the air.

Countless golden characters appeared before Kaiser, forming several enormous lines of text that he couldn’t read. Yet unlike the symbols on the staircase, these characters carried a strange pressure that made him instinctively hold his breath.

Before he could examine them further, the woman’s familiar voice sounded in his mind.

[Thou hast finally reached the end.]

Kaiser looked around.

"That was the final trial?"

[Indeed. Thou hast endured the pressure, understood the symbols, and brought their principles together. Thou hast proven that thy mind is capable of comprehending a small portion of the knowledge left behind by the Forgotten Gods.]

Kaiser glanced at the golden characters floating before him.

"So, what happens now? Are you going to give me the legacy you mentioned?"

A soft laugh echoed through the empty space.

[Thou art certainly impatient. But before I grant thee the legacy, there is something thou must understand.]

The golden characters began to separate, forming several distinct groups.

[The knowledge preserved within this sanctuary is not ordinary knowledge. What thou hast studied so far is merely the foundation. The true legacy contains the paths followed by the Gods themselves, including the principles through which they shaped creation and understood existence.]

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

"Are you saying the legacy contains their Bloodline or something like that?"

[More than that.]

The woman’s voice became slightly more serious.

[There are Arts that mortals call Grand Arts and Supreme Arts. Such Arts are already extraordinary, capable of allowing their users to influence the laws of the world. Yet even they have their limits.]

Kaiser listened carefully.

[Above them exist Transcendent Arts. These are not merely stronger versions of ordinary Arts. They are paths that approach the fundamental principles governing existence itself. Some can influence the structure of a world, while others can reach beyond the boundaries that separate one world from another.]

Kaiser stared at the golden characters.

Transcendent Arts.

He had never heard of such a level before.

Grand Arts and Supreme Arts were already considered incredibly rare. Even powerful beings might spend their entire lives without obtaining one. Yet the woman was telling him that there was an entire level beyond them.

And this sanctuary had preserved Arts that belonged to that level.

His expression grew serious.

"Then why aren’t there more Transcendent Arts in the world?"

[Because the paths of the Gods were never easy to inherit. Their Arts were created through an understanding of principles that ordinary beings could scarcely comprehend. Even if a suitable inheritance survived, most mortals would be unable to withstand the knowledge contained within it.]

Kaiser glanced at the staircase behind him.

That explained why the trial had forced him to understand the symbols instead of simply allowing him to pass through the formation.

The trial wasn’t merely testing his intelligence. It was preparing him to receive knowledge that could be dangerous if he couldn’t comprehend it.

He returned his attention to the floating characters.

"And what kinds of Arts are preserved here?"

[Many of them belonged to the Forgotten Gods. Each God followed a different path, and their Arts reflected the principles they governed.]

The golden characters shifted again, revealing several distinct patterns.

[There was the God of Creation, who stood at the beginning of all things and governed the principles through which existence took shape.]

Another pattern appeared, its lines extending outward in countless directions.

[There was the God of Destruction, who governed the end of all things and the principles through which even the most enduring creations could be brought to their conclusion.]

Kaiser watched the patterns carefully.

[There were also Gods who governed thunder, frost, flame, darkness, life, death, and countless other aspects of existence. Their Arts were not limited to manipulating these forces. They represented the paths through which those Gods had comprehended their respective principles.]

The woman paused briefly before continuing.

[And above many of those paths stood the God of Balance, who governed the relationship between creation and destruction, ensuring that neither overwhelmed the other.]

Kaiser looked at the symbols floating before him.

Creation. Destruction. Balance.

Each sounded powerful in its own way, but the last one caught his attention.

The principle of balance seemed to connect with several concepts he had studied during the trial. However, he couldn’t assume that understanding a few symbols meant he could comprehend an Art created by a God.

He still had a long way to go.

"So, these are all Transcendent Arts?"

[Not every Art preserved here has reached that level. Some are Grand Arts, others are Supreme Arts, and a select few are Transcendent Arts. Their ranks depend on the depth of the principles they contain, not merely on the power they can unleash.]

Kaiser nodded slowly.

That made sense.

An Art that could destroy a mountain wasn’t necessarily greater than one that could manipulate a fundamental law. Raw destructive power and the depth of an Art’s principles were two different things.

He looked at the countless golden characters again.

There were so many possibilities that choosing one seemed almost impossible.

Kaiser rubbed his chin.

"Then which one am I supposed to choose?"

The woman’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

[That, Kaiser Storm, is a question only thou canst answer.]

He sighed.

"Of course it is."

[Thou hast come this far using thy own understanding. It would be foolish for me to make this choice on thy behalf.]

Kaiser fell silent for a moment.

He had originally expected to receive a powerful inheritance that would help him grow stronger. He hadn’t anticipated being presented with Arts that represented the paths of Gods, much less having to choose between them.

His gaze moved across the floating patterns once again.

Creation could allow him to understand how things came into existence. Destruction could grant him insight into how they ended. Balance might allow him to understand the relationship between opposing principles.

Then there were the other Arts, each representing a different path.

Kaiser considered his options carefully.

He didn’t want to choose an Art simply because it sounded powerful. If he was going to inherit something from the Forgotten Gods, he wanted a path that suited him and could continue to grow alongside him.

After all, the strongest Art would be of little use if he couldn’t understand or properly utilize it.

He looked toward the central golden pattern.

"Can you at least tell me which of these Arts would suit me best?"

The woman remained silent for a moment.

Then she answered.

[Thou hast already begun to understand the answer. Look not only at what each Art can accomplish, but also at the path thou wishest to follow.]

Kaiser frowned slightly.

He looked at the symbols again, carefully considering her words.

"I feel like this is another test," Kaiser said. "If I choose an Art, you’ll probably tell me I have to reach a certain level of understanding before I can inherit it."

The woman remained silent for a moment before replying.

[Thou art correct.]

Kaiser sighed. "I knew it."

[The first trial was meant to test thy willpower. The path ahead is not an easy one, and many would give up when faced with the difficulties it presents. I needed to see whether thou possessed the determination to continue even when faced with pain and hardship.]

Kaiser nodded as he recalled the immense pressure he had endured during the first trial.

[The second trial tested thy understanding and ability to learn. The Arts left behind by the Gods are not something that can be mastered through strength alone. Even the simplest of their Arts contains principles that ordinary beings may spend their entire lives trying to comprehend. Without a sufficient mind to study and understand those principles, receiving such an Art would be meaningless.]

Kaiser glanced at the golden symbols floating before him.

"So, the first two trials were just to determine whether I’m qualified to learn these Arts?"

[Indeed. But do not mistake passing these trials for earning the legacy itself.]

The woman’s voice grew more serious.

[Only after thou hast demonstrated sufficient understanding, unwavering willpower, and the ability to bear the burden left behind by the Forgotten Gods will I grant thee their legacy. Their knowledge and power are not things that can be entrusted to someone who lacks the resolve to carry them forward.]

Kaiser fell silent for a moment.

"So, even if I choose an Art now, I won’t receive the full inheritance unless I prove myself capable of understanding it?"

[Correct. Thou mayest choose the path thou wishest to pursue, but the depth of thy understanding will determine how much of its knowledge thou canst inherit. The legacy of the Forgotten Gods is not a gift to be claimed simply by passing a few trials. It is a responsibility that must be earned.]