Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse c1-705

by Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Game

  Chapter 102 - Trial of Supremacy I

  It seemed much of the knowledge that humans had of the floating land masses they called Nests were in the wrong. The landmasses were called Spiritual Lands by the knowledgeable ranks of beasts, with the dense essence that continued to birth monsters being a constant trial of power.

  It was a brutal trial where those that were defeated were used as the fuel for the victors to continue rising. After a significant time period has passed where higher ranking beasts appear, the Trial of Supremacy will take place.

  This trial differed depending on what tier the Spiritual Land was, with Tier 1 blessed lands having trials most fit for those just entering the EPIC level. Only those at that level or lower could possibly participate in the trial, with anybody above it being qualified.

  The trial for a Tier 2 Spiritual Land was even more rigorous, where similar levels of power as Tier one were required, but the trials were much harder. I haven't yet found out the specifics for Tier 3 Spiritual lands, but they were most likely a battlefield of LEGENDARY individuals.

  The current Skypeak Nest I was in was a newly upgraded Tier 2 Spiritual Land, with 15 powerful EPIC beasts meeting the requirements to participate in the trial. Ever since the upgrade though, even though the chances of success had increased, it had become much harder and none of the beasts had been successful.

  This was where I came in. The transparent figure that I still do not know the name of had been monitoring the Spiritual Land she had upgraded, waiting for the rise of a LEGENDARY beast to bolster the defenses against demons. The ones who had opted to take the trial could not make it past the 2nd stage.

  When I took down the white-furred beast who was a participant of the trial, it granted me the right to take his seat. The time after that, they just waited for me to come back, before the [Emperor Penguin] acted to transport me to this location. This was deep underground, at the center of the Spiritual Land. It was a wide expanse of frozen land that stretched out for miles and enclosed all around.

  I looked towards the evened out surface around us, and then at the EPIC beasts in the surroundings. I then asked the transparent red figure still floating in the skies.

  "What is the first stage of the trial?"

  "The first stage is to simply defeat an opponent of the same level during the trial. The trials after that...will have increased levels of difficulty. If you agree to take on the first stage and onward, you are staking your life and you cannot back out. Even if you are defeated you will have to remain and continue trying for years to come as your power grows. If it happens that you die...well, that's that."

  My thoughts quickly moved at this new information and I replied before long, bringing the cold blade in my hands close to me as I spoke.

  "When do we start?"

  "Haha, I like that confidence! All the beasts here have tried and failed to pass the second level. It is simply too rare for a being with a powerful unique skill to be borne, so I have high hopes on you making my work here a success.."

  At the wave of her hands, another rumbling ensued around us as a large golden door rose from the ground.

  "This door will transfer you to the pocket in space where the trial will take place."

  I looked to the golden door, and then to the menacing beasts that were giving me contemptuous looks all around. This was especially so for the cold Emperor Penguin that had its head raised high and looking down arrogantly. Its eyes turned into cold slits as its voice rang out beside my ear.

  "A human has never before qualified for this trial, and there won't be one that passes it. Pray that among your opponents...you do not meet me."

  The beasts backed away at the motioning of the transparent figure that I turned to and asked,

  "What might be the identity of the one I've been speaking to all this time?"

  The figure in the air stalled a bit as an elegant smile bloomed.

  "My identity? You'll be worthy of finding out if you pass the trial successfully. Good luck, human."

  The transparent red figure remained still in the air as I looked towards the golden door and moved forward. She held no aura, but I could still feel bells ringing in my head whenever she made a threat earlier. But this trial...I was looking forward to the surprise it would bring once I've cleared it successfully. Guaranteed advancement to the LEGENDARY rank? Haha, let's see what gifts you will be putting on my lap!

  I moved without hesitation and placed my large incarnation's hand on the golden door, my figure disappearing soon after.

  ---

  The transparent woman floating in the skies looked at the disappearing human that was transferred to a different space as her lips perked into a smile. She only had a small amount of her consciousness sent to these frozen lands to observe the invading demons as well as bolster the strength of the beings here.

  She thought it would be a pity if the small kingdom that the humans had created was wiped away so easily, so she was magnanimous enough to try and provide them reinforcements through the Trials of Supremacy.

  Who knew that the humans would shoot themselves in the foot and continue to reduce the number of beasts in the nearby Spiritual Lands that could have participated in the trials over these last decades, making her task of finding a talented one that could pass the trial extremely hard.

  By spending some of her treasures, she successfully elevated the tier of this Spiritual Land as well as the other 2 that have yet to find an owner in these northern lands. She was able to watch the production of a few powerful EPIC beasts in these three Lands, but they still were not powerful enough. She was about to give up and see if any of the forces would have a powerful hero to spare amidst this war to send them to the north.

  That was her thought process until this human made his appearance. From a weakling to someone of significant strength, this very quick process was observed by her personally whenever he landed on the Spiritual Land.

  The fact that the world had blessed this human with a unique Devor Class ability made him very special. She hadn't seen a minor species favored with such a talent in the hundreds of years she has lived. If it appeared within the ranks of the Mythical Beast clans, that would be in the norm and she wouldn't bat an eye. But this was a human...so how would he fair against this trial normally meant for the most powerful of beasts?

  What made him all the more interesting was the fact that his mind was not encroached and consumed after he absorbed the essence of a being that had already consumed one of the demons' horrendous products of Abyss Magic, the Power Jewel.

  Her fair face turned stern as she recalled the terrible power the demons continued to show as the war continued.

  She would give them no leeway and completely decimate their forces as time passed. Not another inch of the Beast World will they continue to lay a claim to. All of those invaders had to die!

  Chapter 103 - Trial of Supremacy II

  I was transported into an environment of extreme heat as I found myself in the air, surrounded by molten flowing earth below me.

  The air was extremely stifling as gaseous vapors were released continuously, making this seem like the closest decision of hell that I had come across. I was still comfortably enclosed in the [Corrupted Sword Saint's Incarnation] as I floated in the air looking for the opponent of the first stage of this trial.

  A blinding light shined in the air as a large winged creature spanning more than ten meters appeared. This was one of the more terrifying looking creatures that I had seen among the beasts that were encircling me.

  It was something out of a human's wildest nightmare, a [Winged Spider].

  Four large wings proudly erupted from its back as more than 10 legs powerfully wiggled back and forth. It's ferocious face released a piercing scream as poisonous saliva spluttered all around.

  I began by summoning the Plague Bearer and activating Saint's Return, watching both the monstrosity of a beast come to being as well as a golden phantom appearing behind me releasing buffs and co
ntinuous heals.

  The spider moved first, releasing a spray of white from below its abdomen that formed into multiple long and sticky threads. The summon howled out as its wide wings flapped towards the enemy. My eight-meter tall incarnation vanished from the spot and appeared in the air above the spider, the long blade tinged with icy coldness from [Absolute Zero] striking down.

  ---

  The transparent red figure was observing the human and the origin of the beast that had been transferred into the first stage of the trial through a circular mirror that played the battle at high speeds.

  The rest of the powerful beasts were obediently sitting behind the woman like well-behaved children as they also looked on. The battle was not going in the favor of the [Winged Spider] as it was besieged by powerful physical attacks from one side, and a poisonous beast belching out poison on the other.

  It had been retaliating this entire time with its many sharp legs and poison, as well as a destructive skill that formed multiple five-meter long bone spears to hone in on their target. The spears were all struck down by a swing of a sword or smashed into the body of the incarnation, causing damage that was seen to be healing rapidly after.

  Only a few minutes passed as they watched, and they observed the sharp legs of the spider being cut up as it also lost one of its wings. In the fiery environment that the two of them were in, a storm of cold was constantly spinning around the large figure of the human. With a stroke of his long blade, layers of ice would be left on the spider's body as the battle was drawing to a close.

  Its body continued to slow down and eventually, the long blade pierced it from its abdomen as it let out a long screech, dying from the strike that spread out destructive cold elements all over its body.

  The woman looked at all this carefully as her eyes shined with colorful lights.

  'This human gives no regard to the usage of energy and constantly erupts with destructive attacks that take down his enemy. But, what is your strategy when you move on to the next stage? If you do not conserve your energy, how will you proceed from now on?'

  She was curious about this human that continued to bring her surprises. Someone of her stature would not normally pay attention to an up and coming EPIC individual or watch them this closely, but she just had a hunch that this human could grow up to be a powerful piece.

  Her choice to send this consciousness to these frozen lands was only a whim, with the excuse of it being a loss if the lands and their inhabitants were given over to demons. The thought just passed through her mind, so she did it. Now it seemed like her hunch had brought her something unbelievable to play with once again.

  Wild energies revolved as a beast was transported back to their surroundings. It was the [Winged Spider] that was now severely weakened, with its origin severely damaged from the death that just occurred in the trial ground.

  The trial ground acted similarly to a dungeon that only appeared when someone was challenging for ownership of a Spiritual Land. The opponents that were contending for the same thing would have their origins sent to fight the other challenger. In the event of their death, their origins would be severely weakened, and if it repeated again in a short time span, they would face true death.

  The trial for this Spiritual Land was fairly straightforward as many were, just a test of strength. A few minutes passed before the woman motioned forward as three new beasts neared the golden door obediently and they disappeared. She had been directing the trial of this Land ever since she caused its upgrade, as it would normally be automated by the Spiritual Land itself.

  Not many people could do the actions she was doing, as they would have had to pay a large price that wasn't worth the rewards of a Tier 2 Spiritual Land. Even after they did this, they couldn't obtain the Spiritual Land for themselves as the trial for ownership was strictly set with its own requirements.

  This was why the other two Spiritual Lands in the North still had no owners, even if all the powerhouses of the Beast World knew about them. The beasts that were naturally born in these Lands would constantly fight to see if they can obtain ownership themselves.

  Figures from Mythical Kingdoms usually sent their promising up and coming powerhouses of EPIC or LEGENDARY rank to see if they were qualified enough at the same level to pass the trials of some of the Spiritual Lands spread across the Beast World. They weren't things that could just be snatched away if you had enough power, you also had to meet the base requirements they set.

  Someone of her caliber would only be able to compete for a naturally formed Spiritual Land of a much higher tier. But with her power, something like this small upgrade was manageable. Now, she was curious how the human would face three beasts besieging him from all sides after he just finished a battle with one.

  The environment in the crystal mirror in front of her changed as the challenger and his opponents appeared in a grassland environment. Greenery was spread all around as the figures of the newly transported beasts became clear.

  The ones to face him in the second stage of this trial that many of these beasts had previously failed in were the fat [Walrus], an extremely well built [Polar Bear], and a sharp-toothed [N.a.k.e.d Molerat].

  The beasts circled the figure of the human and his summon menacingly as they recalled how he had taken care of the [Winged Spider]. They had watched how he fought, but would it be of any use against this human?

  The woman watched interestingly as the scene began to play out. Would this human really be able to pass the trial of a Spiritual Land for the first time in history? Their species had always been weak, and would never stand out as the most powerful at any stage. There have been instances in history where they came across trials of Spiritual Lands, but none had survived to tell the tale.

  The treasures and wonders of Spiritual Lands were only ever enjoyed by beasts as it was where many of them first came to consciousness and fought with all their strength, creating powerful legends of beasts over the years who created their own Kingdoms.

  It would be interesting to see how the first human to own a Spiritual Land would build it. But all of that was fantasy unless this one did the impossible. So, how would you face beasts that normally have tougher bodies and more mana than the normal human of the same level?

  The battle began with the three beasts circling and throwing attacks on all sides while staying a distance from the human. The [N.a.k.e.d Molerat] was throwing out deadly water spears that rotated at high speeds while the [Polar Bear] threw out attacks that detached its sharp claws towards the human.

  Loud clangs could be heard as the human knocked off these attacks with a swing of his sword, freezing the water spears and extending claws while defending from the only beast that was fighting it out with him at close distance, the [Walrus]. The poisonous summon was seen belching out a venomous breath that disrupted the tempo the beasts had created as the battle raged on.

  It was a deadly stage that even the most powerful beasts born in this Spiritual Land had not been able to pass as they were eventually drained of energy while facing so many opponents. Would this human hold even more surprises? Maybe the devour class unique skill he held would allow him to continue getting stronger with every defeat of his enemies, but would they give him the time to absorb and ingest the essence he devoured?

  The woman's thoughts were interrupted as the scene rapidly changed in the mirror. Tens of minutes had passed as the three beasts found their tempo and pushed the human back. They all suffered varying degrees of injuries as their bodies were filled with bloody and frozen gashes, but they were still standing.

  The change that had occurred rapidly shifted the state of the battle as an extremely large [Iceberg] was rapidly falling from the skies towards the beasts, with what seemed like a rain of [Bone Spears] targeted at one of the beasts with the goal of taking its life.

  On top of all of this, multiple rifts had opened in the skies as destructive lightning and flames sn.a.k.e.d out towards the beasts. All of these attacks had a tinge of
icy blue unstable energies surrounding them as they all honed in on their targets.

  The figure of the woman was surprised at this sight. The other two attacks aside, it was the spears of bones she had seen not too long ago used by a beast that surprised her. The human's unique skill was able to absorb the essence of and replicate the core skills of his enemies this quickly?!

  Chapter 104 - Movement of forces

  The surprise from the transparent figure did not last long as she focused on the impact of the sudden change in the battle that would have grand consequences. The [Iceberg] filled with extremely hard and jagged surfaces smashed down into the grassland, heavily damaging the beasts.

  BOOM!

  The bone spears that were aimed at the [N.a.k.e.d Molerat] had completely skewered the body of the beast as the scene cleared. It let out horrible screeches as the pain registered itself, and a cold blade was all that it met as the incarnation of the human flashed at its position and took its life.

  The remaining two beasts came out of the changed land that was now filled with cold glaciers as they howled maddeningly at the human, resuming their attacks with increased vigor.

  The beasts and the woman watching the clear mirror showed different reactions at this development, as the arrogant [Emperor Penguin] had a cold light shining in its eyes as it watched the battle continue.

  The woman was more surprised at the fact that the human was able to replicate the skill of the [Winged Spider] this quickly after defeating it not too long ago. She had watched as the collection of essence moved from the body of the dead spider in the trial and moved towards the human as it quickly disappeared in his body.

  She took this as his devour class unique skill, where normally a significant amount of time would be required before the core essence of a being would be absorbed and the intricacies of its skills would reveal itself. Yet, this human had done this entire process while continuing to battle. Her interest in this human grew more and more as she watched the ensuing fight.