System's POV - Chapter 1441: The Final Boss Of The Trial Of Courage [Part 4]

Chapter 1441: The Final Boss Of The Trial Of Courage [Part 4]

Dantanian’s laugh grew louder and louder as he enjoyed such an interesting scene. Who could’ve thought that he’d live to see this day?

He grew bored doing nothing a few days ago, so he decided to use one of the abilities he hadn’t used for a long time.

This skill was called “After Image.” Similar to Tiona’s clone, Dantanian could also create a no-substance copy of himself.

It was a mere shadow that moved according to the Fiend’s will. But this skill allowed Dantanian to share his After Image’s senses.

With nothing else to do, he decided to take a gamble and sent his After Image to the Temple of Courage to see if Zaphiel and the others had already arrived to challenge the trial.

He did see them there. And to his pleasant surprise, Thirteen’s clone was wiping the floor with their faces!

“Hahaha! Serves you right, Zaphiel!” Dantanian laughed loudly. “You arrogant prick! Who’s your daddy now huh? Who’s your DADDY now?!”

The Fiend of Many Faces wanted to give himself a pat on the back because his last minute idea proved to be the best idea ever.

Not only was Zaphiel being beaten up by Thirteen’s clone, even Belial and Pharzuph didn’t escape his wrath.

Only Rahab remained unaffected since he didn’t participate not even once.

Dantanian cheered for Zion’s clone and even reported what was happening to the real Zion back in the Fortunate Isles.

When the teenage boy learned of what was happening, he became extremely curious how his clone held up against Celestials.

“If only we can bring your clone to the Fortunate Isles… I’m sure that Zaphiel and the others will think twice before trying to force their way in!” Dantanian stated. “You should see their faces! It’s hilarious!”

Thirteen allowed himself to smile a bit because the thought of his clone beating up Fiends and Celestials was something that he, too, wished to see.

Unfortunately, he was quite busy in setting up the battlefield, which would allow their forces to gain an advantage in the battle to come.

A few days later…

Zaphiel, Belial, and Pharzuph had enough. All three of them had tried different tactics, but still lost in the end.

After going back to the Sanctuary to inquire about the Trial of Courage, they understood that the difficulty of the final trial depended on the strength and number of the challengers.

It would always adjust itself to their level of difficulty, making the challenge “fair” to all.

But Zaphiel, Belial, and Pharzuph called this fairness simply bullsh*t. Still, since they now knew the mechanics, they decided to try out new strategies in order to win.

They challenged Thirteen’s clone in a three versus one battle, a two versus one, and a one-on-one battle.

But they still failed!

It had been nearly a week since they arrived at Fractured Heaven. Until now, none of them were able to win the challenge.

In the end, they resorted to a different kind of tactic. They ordered the Absolutes of the Sanctuary to fight against Zion against their will.

Since the one ordering them were the so-called Gods of Solterra, the warriors of the Sanctuary had no choice but to obey their orders.

They challenged the trial over and over, but just like the Celestials, none of them could win against Zion’s clone.

Rahab watched everything unfold with a complicated expression on his face.

Forcing mortals to fight for them didn’t sit well with him. But since he also understood that his comrades were also at their wit’s end, he decided to keep silent.

The Absolutes of the Sanctuary were battered and bruised, some barely able to stand after being ejected from the Colosseum.

Not a single one had managed to land a decisive blow.

Some had come close.

Very close.

But every time they believed victory was within reach, the teenage boy would suddenly move differently. It was as if the Trial wasn’t simply mirroring strength.

It was learning.

Inside the arena, Thirteen’s clone stood alone once more.

The faint golden light that filled the Colosseum shimmered around him. His daggers rested casually at his sides, but his posture was relaxed—almost bored.

Across from him stood five Absolutes, their armor cracked, their breathing uneven.

“Forgive us,” one of them whispered under his breath.

They weren’t asking forgiveness from Zion.

They were asking forgiveness from themselves.

Because deep down, they knew. This was not an honorable battle. Entering the Temple of Courage was a way to challenge their inner selves.

The Absolutes knew this better than anyone because they were the guardian of the temple.

None of them were fighting for honor, for glory, or for improvement.

They were fighting because they were ordered to.

And that difference mattered.

Five Absolutes rushed forward.

They unleashed their strongest combination attack as a team that they had practiced for years. This strategy was something they used when hunting strong monsters, and very rarely did it fail.

The Fiends and the Celestials watched this battle with great focus. The Zion in the arena was very different from the Zion they faced in battle.

This version was slower and less deadly. That was understandable because he was matching the overall strength of his opponents.

If a Celestial fought him, his strength would be that of a Celestial.

The same for Fiends.

But against ordinary mortals, his strength would also match their level. As the five Absolutes unleashed their attacks, creating a killing zone that no one could escape, Thirteen’s clone took a step forward.

He parried one spear, blocked an arrow, and deflected the throwing knives that were thrown at him.

His movements were precise and deadly, not wasting the precious seconds that could spell the difference of victory and defeat.

Rahab was so fascinated by Zion’s fighting style that he couldn’t help but study it seriously. The way he moved his hands, the way he swung his daggers, the way he moved his feet.

Everything felt like it was flowing, and following a pattern that only the teenage boy knew about.

The Celestial was doing his best to find a specific pattern, which would allow him even a sliver of a chance to get a decisive hit against such an opponent.

He believed that this was the key for him to secure his own victory against the teenager who made even powerful Celestials like Belial and Zaphiel bleed like ordinary.