Chapter 237

Chapter 237. Second Trial (3)

“Gilenios.”

It didn’t appreciate his overly carefree tone, but unlike the gods of Bihar, who were full of deceit, interacting with him was easier.

With a slight touch of displeasure, the system asked calmly, without venting anger.

“Is he doing well?”

“From the outside, yes.”

It seemed to mean that no one could really know what was going on inside.

“Player Kang Hyunwoo…”

No matter how hard he tried to become callous, Hyunwoo was inherently someone who respected life. Maybe it was because he had lost his parents at a young age that he held fear and rejection towards death.

Because of this, he tended to take the deaths of others too seriously.

It wasn’t pleasant to see such a person gradually becoming desensitized to death.

However, it wasn’t its intention to burden him with the concern for life in another world.

That was a burden he didn’t need to carry.

“The mess we are in now is due to the discord and betrayal of the 7 Great Gods.”

Hyunwoo, who didn’t even know of their existence till last year, had no reason to be held accountable for their mistakes.

The lives of Bihar were under the jurisdiction of the 7 Great Gods.

The system had no interest in their survival or demise.

In fact, it hoped they would be used as nourishment for the players.

That way, they could help defend the creatures of Earth in the future.

But Hyunwoo was different.

“Why is it that, while being calculative most times, he doesn’t know how to be cunning in situations like this?”

Thinking about this, it felt frustrated.

While the system swallowed a sigh, Gilenios on the other side continued to murmur.

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you go and check on him?”

It would probably be better than causing a ruckus as before.

Contrary to Gilenios’ added comment, the system kept its mouth shut.

Thinking back to those times just made it angry.

About two months ago, Gilenios had suddenly left his position.

And when he returned, he announced that Hyunwoo had succeeded Palao’s divinity.

At that time, the system couldn’t even find Hyunwoo to investigate what happened to him.

Thus, it wandered around Bihar looking for him.

It was only after eight days that it managed to find Hyunwoo, who had just returned.

And then, by reviewing the game records, it was able to understand everything that had happened.

it raged at Gilenios for putting Hyunwoo through such an ordeal.

“He almost broke down mentally.”

It was reckless to push him into danger like that.

“Is this what you call cooperation?”

When Gilenios couldn’t withstand the system’s wrath, Karlos stepped in and said,

“Will you back out then? Surely it’s something you need.”

Well, it won’t deny it.

The system had been struggling to operate the game properly after an unauthorized entity hijacked the originally intended channel for the game, leading to excessive consumption of divinity.

As a result, the game had to start at a reduced scale of over 80% than originally planned.

The number of players was also significantly lacking.

Under such circumstances, the divinity Hyunwoo brought was like rain in a long drought.

“But that cannot take precedence over the safety of player Kang Hyunwoo.”

He was a human who shared information obtained by shedding his blood with other players.

He contributed coordinates necessary to connect the second gate amid danger.

He supported players’ growth, exerting influence in various aspects.

All his actions had a justifiable reward.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t belittle Hyunwoo’s achievements.

“If it weren’t for him, all metrics would have fallen short of expectations.”

There would have been more days of despairing than holding hope before the war.

But unfortunately for the enemies, Hyunwoo was selected as a player as soon as the war, disguised as a game, erupted.

“If he had been selected just a year, or even half a year later, he wouldn’t exist now.”

I didn’t know whether it was a coincidence or destiny.

But thanks to his appearance, the system was able to dream of a future.

The system knew how important invisible possibilities were.

Throughout history, those who grew a faint hope into a significant change to alter the world existed.

In this era, the system was convinced it was Hyunwoo.

Therefore, Karlos, who pushed Hyunwoo into the agony labeled as a trial without any discussion, was not welcomed.

Having no competence to protest, it only kept silent.

The silence from the system sometimes harbored implicit trust.

“He will navigate through it just fine.”

It believed in Hyunwoo, who had exceeded its expectations at every turn.

As long as he was on Earth, winning this war wasn’t impossible.

‘So I need to buy time.’

Alone, the system could only barely block that unauthorized existence.

Even that was possible with Gilenios’s help.

Given the situation, it couldn’t even talk about extinguishing it.

At best, acting as a shield was the limit of the system.

Hence, what could it do? It could only hone a spear that would replace it.

“Until then, I shall shield it from causality.”

Staring at the black shadow densely filling the enormous channel, it composed itself.

Earnestly wishing that its hope returns safely once again this time.

* * *

As promised, Gilenios came to fetch me two days later.

As soon as I held his hand, I lost consciousness.

When I awakened, past experiences replayed in full.

「”By Palao’s arrangement, the entry of a Inheritance Candidate is permitted.”」

「”A trial best suited for the Inheritance Candidate is prepared.”」

A message I had seen before.

A pure white space resembling a temple.

The solitary image of Palao at its center.

And, the number at the bottom of my view halted at 99%.

Everything was just like last time.

Even the time flowing without incident after the number reached 99% was no different from the past.

Of course, there was one difference.

This time, I wasn’t entirely cut off from the outside.

As proof, Rice Cake—again—connected my view.

“For the fifth time.”

Faithfully following my directive to establish a connection when dawn broke each day, Rice Cake had done just that.

Through this, I discovered the disparity between time inside this space and outside.

“A day outside equaled ten days in here.”

With the fifth connection concluded, fifty days have passed solely within this space.

Another way to express this would be a half-century; it’s far from a short time.

Moreover, I wasn’t bound by bodily needs in this space.

A place where eating or sleeping wasn’t necessary.

Indeed, conditions were perfect for concentrating on training.

Squandering that opportunity would have been foolish.

Hence, I moved mana continuously without taking a break.

Initially, it was about six hours, then ten, progressing to a whole day, two, three, eventually leading to a week.

Today, it was to the extent that I had been controlling mana for a full ten days without a single break in flow.

Consequently, the long-standing effort I’d maintained for the past several months finally bore fruit.

「”Mana Control evolves into Mana Domination!”」

Only one word had changed from the phrases I’d seen before.

Nevertheless, the world seen at the end of that altered phrase was worlds apart.

Everything I saw, heard, and felt had changed.

Billions of mana particles moving entirely at my will.

All the mana filling this vast space, wriggling in every direction, was me.

“Whew…”

Originally, I was a finite being unable to surpass the limitations of my physical body.

No matter how much I stabbed with a spear, it only took effect where I was physically present.

A person standing on the opposite side of the world wouldn’t be affected at all by my spear.

But the limitations broke once I gained complete dominion over mana.

Where there’s mana, I could exist and exert influence anywhere endlessly.

“To operate, control, and ultimately dominate.”

It meant my existence and influence would expand almost infinitely.

“Finally.”

I had reached the place where beings like Horfe and Gretman belonged.

Getting here didn’t require any special tricks, luck, or miracles.

Simply running without ceasing brought me to this point.

I could have filled the proficiency gauge for Mana Control and purchased the knowledge at a discounted price from the shop.

But I achieved this with my own strength.

Resultantly, today’s accomplishment felt absolutely euphoric.

“I’m truly thrilled.”

Now, merely spreading out mana could annihilate hundreds or thousands.

If I was to condense mana and wield it, it would become a much more formidable mass attack than a mere sword dance.

“I understand why those in the domination stage can rival mages.”

Each time I coveted to wield mana to verify my power, I felt exhilarated again.

I feared I might become addicted to the intoxication with mana.

“Hm, mmm…”

I involuntarily hummed a cheerful tune.

Feeling like every remnant of recent negative emotions washed away.

In the waves of mana, I enjoyed the unique, intoxicating sensation as if I was drunk.

Then, a chiming notification, which I set up just in case, rang out.

“Phew…”

Immediately, I exhaled deeply and gathered my mana.

That sound a moment ago signaled the end of the training.

Right as predicted, the number at the lower part of my view had changed.

“One hundred percent.”

No sooner had I registered that number did the familiar message rush up the screen.

「The second trial begins.」

「Face your own errors, Inheritance Candidate.」

「Restricted abilities for the Inheritance Candidate.」

Upon checking the content, the view distorted.

I felt slightly dizzy, and my body even wobbled.

With the ability restricted, my body reverted to that of a robust adult.

‘I don’t know what will happen…’

There’s a need for caution now that abilities are lost.

But first, I must regain my balance.

Barely mustering strength to stand upright, someone held onto my arm to help me up.

‘Who could it be?’

Surprised that someone else was here in such a desolate space.

Tensing up, I managed to stabilize myself.

At that moment, the distorted view reverted, and my shoulders unknowingly tensed up.

Too many people were surrounding me.

Quickly, I glanced around to take stock of the situation.

The thick aroma in the air.

Murmurous gatherings of people.

Visibly black clothes and white flowers.

It only took those fragments of information to realize where I was.

‘A funeral hall…?’

Questioning why I was here, other familiar sights filled my eyes.

Familiar people, hallways, wreaths, and inscriptions.

If my memory wasn’t flawed, everything before me reminded me of the funeral for my parents.

As realization dawned, my heart began to pound hard like a drum.

“Hyunwoo.”

Just as expected, the voice I occasionally recalled in dreams echoed.

Turning my creaky head, I looked to my side.

There, filling my vision, stood the man who supported my wavering self.

“Are you okay?”

If we ever meet again, I won’t let you live peacefully.

The man I cursed countless times in my heart was my uncle, Kang Wonho.

“I will stay here. Go to the twins. They need you by their side.”

As soon as his face entered my view, my fingers twitched.

I was desperate to strangle him.

Damned System