Ch 101

Chapter 101: Journey’s End (3)

I felt bewildered as I looked around the world of State of Mind that I could see through the Fire Dragon’s Eyes.

It’s good that I passed the sixth hurdle right away, but my State of Mind was more twisted than I had expected.

Whirlpool.

Only whirlpools existed In this small, black universe where heaven and earth did not exist.

A small sword was stuck in the center of the numerous whirlpools, and it was shining softly.

Aside from the fact that countless whirlpools had swords stuck on them, their rotational speed and luminous intensity were different.

Among them, the brightly shining whirlpool only existed above.

The whirlpools were scattered up and down, left and right, but as though there was a gap even between them, the size of the whirlpool grew bigger and brighter as it went up.

In contrast, the whirlpool became smaller and smaller as it went down, and its light was faint, to the level of a dull lightbulb.

‘I can’t even guess what it means…’

Is this really the world of my State of Mind?

-…You’re the first to break through the sixth hurdle immediately like this.

I collected my mind to Aileen’s voice, which I totally forgot about.

Come to think of it, the more time I stay in this world of State of Mind, the more time is consumed outside by the power that tweaks the flow of the time.

I had to leave as soon as possible since I passed the sixth hurdle, too.

-No, I lifted the power that tweaks the flow of the time…

So, is the time flow between the outside world and the world of State of Mind the same now?

-Precisely. So there’s nothing to worry about. I don’t know what that 7 days you thought were all about, but you probably have plenty of time left.

As a matter of fact, I wanted to know what this world of State of Mind was. That’s great to hear.

What in the world do these whirlpools mean?

Why is it that the world of State of Mind that I was suddenly able to see is full of whirlpools with swords stuck in them?

And why are these whirlpools different in size and light intensity, as though they have differences from each other?

-That’s probably because… your desires are materialized as these whirlpools…

Could you please be more specific about what that means.

-I suppose the sword symbolizes your obsession with martial arts, and the whirlpool symbolizes your endless desire?

It somewhat sounded like she was guessing it, but it was plausible.

If so, does that mean that this world of State of Mind is the materialization of my desire for growth?

The fact that the whirlpool gets bigger as it’s placed on the upper part and smaller as it’s placed on the lower part must be a secondary symbolism.

-I didn’t just guess it! Do you think I can’t even interpret this properly when I’ve seen dozens of worlds of State of Mind as a saintess?

But will this count as proof of the belief?

It wasn’t difficult except that I had to see the materialized symbols of my desire to grow, though…

-It pisses me off a little that you’re trying to change the topic, but… I’ll let you know. The proof of belief is the way to admit oneself.

…A way to admit oneself?

-Believe it or not, People don’t really know their own beliefs, and they don’t even know what they believe and think. The goal of this hurdle was to face the state of the world, that is, the materialization of the entire process of believing, thinking, and acting.

It’s unexpectedly a trial that only thought of the beliefs of the person who’s being tested, huh.

-Isn’t that obvious? The proof of belief is to admit one’s weaknesses, ugliness, and to prove oneself. The trial ended by acknowledging oneself, discarding all the contradictions that acted as a protective mechanism, and ultimately proving oneself completely.

Then doesn’t that mean I haven’t passed the trial yet?

Even if I could see the world of State of Mind, there might be contradictions that act as self-recognition or protective mechanisms.

-There’s none. You’re just being true to your own desires. You want to overcome your pitiful past and become stronger. But you don’t want to throw away your humanity. So, with the new mindset, you decided to fight based on that belief.

…Somehow, I was embarrassed as I felt like everything was exposed to a stranger, but it wasn’t wrong.

During the fierce battle against Resillian, I decided to fight with this mindset and belief.

This was a trial that required quite an honest proving to the extent that I doubted whether this was the same trial of proof that had urged me to fight a monster like a preliminary apostle.

Being this kind all of a sudden even makes me rather anxious.

-…I’m sorry, but you didn’t have to kill everyone on the proof of the body. You could’ve just run away and get through the door of the room. Please don’t hold grudges that you happened to kill everyone without knowing the intention of the trial.

-…Now that you’re done facing the world of State of Mind, I’ll bring back your consciousness from the world of State of Mind.

At those words, I felt a sense of drowsiness kicking in and soon closed my eyes.

Now, it was time for me to return to reality and head to the seventh hurdle.

***

Reaper Scans

[Translator – Ramen ]

[Proofreader – DVN-L ]

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***

「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ is glad that you’ve awakened.」

「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ lets out a sigh of relief that you’ve regained your consciousness.」

「 Administrator ‘The Hero of the Collapsed World’ is bewildered that you woke up faster than expected.」

As soon as I opened my eyes, I ignored the administrator’s messages and checked my own condition first.

I’d been unconscious for a while, losing control of my own body, so it was only natural that I was worried about my body.

“…”

I wasn’t lying on the floor, but I was standing there just like I was before entering the world of State of Mind.

Moreover, my body didn’t have any signs of wounds or being restricted.

However…

“These are the traces of what you did… What do you think?”

The black mirrored room was quite different from before entering the world of State of Mind.

There were signs of swords being swung everywhere, and there were even traces of Sword Ki being used.

At that, I looked at Aileen sitting in the corner of the room with her lips pouted and opened my mouth.

“…Don’t tell me, did I do this?”

“Yeah, I thought you were about to fall, so I tried to hold you and put you on the floor, but you attacked me.”

“Then you stood there firm and entered the world of State of Mind while holding the sword.”

It seemed that I went berserk more violently than I had imagined.

“I couldn’t approach you since I was scared, so I was sitting in the corner like this.”

“If you had told me in advance, I doubt this would’ve happened.”

“That’s why I said I was going to begin the sixth hurdle. That should be enough.”

Aileen grumbled and then took off her pose, where she was hugging her knees, and stood up from her seat.

“Anyways, you passed the sixth hurdle.”

“Then, can I move on to the seventh hurdle now?”

“You can do that if you want to. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Why?”

“No one has ever passed through the seventh hurdle alive.”

I giggled at her words and soon approached the door to the seventh hurdle.

“I’ll be the first one to get through it alive then.”

“…I do understand that you have excellent martial arts and skills. But this is a separate issue from that. You might die.”

“I see.”

“…I feel like talking to myself, Seriously. I’ve never seen anyone as purely insane about growth as you are. The reason why you went through the trial of proof was probably because you wanted to grow.”

“…”

Despite Aileen’s fed-up gaze, I smiled and didn’t respond.

“Then, I’ll be going. Take care.”

Aileen let out a deep sigh and limply waved her hand to say goodbye.

“Alright… farewell, inhumane adventurer.”

With that sight at last, I walked down the hallway after closing the door.

The mirror dyed in black soon began to crack as I passed through the hallway.

It was ominous.

The sixth hurdle presented a more bizarre trial than I had imagined.

And this meant that the seventh hurdle, which would be at the end, wouldn’t be normal too.

「 Administrator ‘Priest of the Seven Gods’ advises you that everything is in your mind.」

「 Administrator ‘Seeker of Divinity’ looks at you with sympathy as they think of the trial you’ll soon be facing.」

「 Administrator ‘Priest of Confession’ is looking forward to seeing the sins you’ll encounter.」

Among the administrators watching me, those who seemed to be related to God were quite talkative.

They even seemed to know to some extent what the trial of the seventh hurdle was about.

「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ feels saddened because she couldn’t follow the story of the administrators who serves God.」

「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ anticipates that a serious situation will soon occur and glares at the administrators who serve the God.」

「 Administrator ‘The Hero of the Collapsed World’ is angry, telling them to put away the stories that only they know and say it the way they could understand it.」

But on the contrary, the other administrators didn’t seem to know what the seventh hurdle was.

It wouldn’t be an ordinary trial, judging by the other administrators who serve God.

‘Anyhow, I’ll find it out when I get there.’

I calmed my anxiety down, telling myself that there was nothing to worry about, and opened the door to the seventh hurdle and stepped forward.

And—

「You’ve reached the seventh hurdle, and the God of Proof is watching you directly.」

Craaack!

For an instant, I froze as I watched the empty air split open.

An eye appeared above the large full-length mirror in the center of the black-dyed mirrored room.

This wasn’t a parable or a joke or anything.

The air truly split open, and an eye with a red pupil appeared from there and stared at me.

I was bewildered by that bizarre sight, but what was even more bewildering was that my body wasn’t moving.

As if encountering something absolutely irresistible, my body gave up on survival.

「Power ‘Serenity’ is sealed by the gaze of the God.」

I couldn’t breathe properly.

「Power ‘Serenity’ is sealed by the gaze of the God.」

「 Administrator ‘Priest of the Seven Gods’ is shocked that the God of Proof is watching.」

Hot blood was flowing down from my eyes like lava.

「 Administrator ‘Seeker of Divinity’ is amused by the appearance of the God of Proof.

My insides felt like they were being turned over, and I felt like vomiting.

「 Administrator ‘Priest of Confession’ feels an irresistible fear and pity for your situation.」

Only the thought that I’d be killed filled my mind.

“K-Kuhugh…”

The pressure and anxiety that I might die soon threw me into a daze.

I was nothing but an ant in front of God’s gaze.

My brain properly recognized the fact that I had become such an insignificant existence that I had no choice but to explode and die, even if I was lightly pressed with a finger as to kill the boredom.

Starting with that, my body gave up on surviving on its own and prepared to face death as it was.

「The God of Proof recognizes the existence of the challenger Han Sungyeun..」

As that message appeared, the pressure intensified, and my body lost balance and was about to collapse.

However, I exerted my will and stabbed my palm with the Heavenly Blood Demonic Sword held in my right hand.

Stab!

“Kugh…”

「 Activating the skill ‘Ashen Blood.’ 」

「 All pain inflicted on the user is reduced by 17% 」

My palms were torn, and the pain relieved by the skill permeated my head.

But it wasn’t enough.

I immediately shook the blade in my hand, tearing through my palm, even more, increasing the pain.

Then I slowly released myself from the pressure through the pain and stared into the eye in the air.

I sent my anger to the being that could kill me, turning me into a piece of meat in an instant.

Even if it’s a God, he had no right to give me death.

Even if I died here right now, I wouldn’t give up resisting.

I didn’t want to be helplessly trampled on by someone, even if that’d cost my life.

Ignoring any emotions, such as confusion or fear, I focused only on my anger.

Otherwise, it’d be impossible for me to keep my sense.

‘Dammit… I’m losing… consciousness…’

I was planning to cut his eyes right away, even if I had to move my body forcibly if the God of Proof didn’t close his eyes just like this.

In any case, this situation was a trial related to the God of Proof.

The Tower of Trials doesn’t give trials that can’t be passed at all.

I wasn’t sure if the seventh hurdle had already begun, but a breakthrough existed.

The Tower of Trials must’ve designed it that way.

Because the Tower wants the challenger to come up to the upper level ardently.

With that thought imprinted in my head, I gazed into the eyes and pulled out the Heavenly Blood Demonic Sword stabbed into the palm of my left hand and aimed it.

It was to kick off at any time and slash those damn eyes in an instant.

But talking about the results, the situation in which I had to cut off the eyes of God didn’t come.

「The God of Proof appreciates the spirit of challenger Han Sungyeun.」

「The God of Proof is delighted to see a challenger with such high mental strength after a long time.」

「The God of Proof tells you to prove yourself while looking at your confident eyes.」

And—

「The God of Proof remembers the existence of challenger Han Sungyeun.」

Then, the eyes that floated in the air smiled with his eyes, as though he liked me.

「The God of Proof announces the beginning of the seventh hurdle.」

Soon the message came to mind, and he immediately disappeared simultaneously.

At the same time, I soon had a hunch, looking at the mirror in the center of the room that was shining brightly.

「The proof of the spirit begins now.」

「From now on, all skills and powers that interfere with the spirit .」

That the seventh hurdle is a real trial that could lead me to death.

——