NOVEL WEB Chapter 20: Too Easy?
Sami glanced at the trio from Vajra Peak, their expressions frozen in disbelief, before he swiftly turned and strode toward the towering spire. Without hesitation, he selected his difficulty and vanished into the trial, leaving the others momentarily stunned.
"Well, good luck, everyone," Alice said, her voice carrying a mix of determination and excitement. "Let's see who comes out on top."
"Yes!" the other three shouted in unison, their spirits ignited. They each selected their respective difficulties and disappeared into the spire, leaving the square half-empty.
"Ah, I forgot to mention," the staff member's voice rang out, tinged with embarrassment. "After you choose the realm of the aura holograms, you cannot change it. So choose wisely. Also, the number of holograms doubles each time you defeat them. Oh, and you can't use the equipment you have on you."
Samael found himself in an all-white, cube-shaped room. A weapon rack stood in one corner, and a gate labeled "Exit" loomed in the distance. He tried to summon Gluttony, but the weapon remained unresponsive. Realizing he was restricted to the trial's rules, he moved toward the rack to grab a weapon. Before he could, a crimson humanoid figure materialized and launched a barrage of attacks at him. The trial had begun.
He dodged a poison bullet that corroded the floor where it landed. With a swift motion, Samael retaliated, his gravity-infused punch flattening the hologram into a pancake. The aura shattered, and the room reset to its pristine state.
"Well, that was easy. Too easy?" he muttered aloud.
He finally grabbed a neutral aura greatsword from the rack, but before he could turn, two more holograms appeared, their attacks relentless. Samael dispatched them with ease, but the numbers quickly escalated. Four holograms spawned, then eight, each wave more challenging than the last.
"Nope, they double. Fuck me!" he exclaimed as eight red figures charged at him, some wielding weapons. A massive armored hologram with a great shield barreled toward him, its earth aura surging like a boulder. Samael countered with an ice blast, freezing and shattering the attack.
The holograms pressed on, their attacks growing more coordinated. Two fused wind and lightning auras into a devastating strike, forcing Samael to conjure a dark aura barrier. The collision produced a shockwave that obliterated both the attack and the barrier. Seizing the chaos, Samael unleashed a space-element sphere, vaporizing the remaining holograms.
Before he could catch his breath, sixteen figures materialized, their attacks more complex and deadly. Some wielded multiple elements, and fusion attacks became commonplace. Samael slowed time within a two-meter radius, allowing him to dodge and counter with precision. Chef's Dance became his rhythm, the greatsword slicing through the holograms with lethal grace.
Twenty minutes later, he stood amidst the shattered remnants of the holograms, only for thirty-two figures to appear. The pressure was immense, even for a genius like Samael. Some holograms wielded life, death, and even space elements, their attacks unpredictable and relentless. A space-user teleported its allies, making evasion nearly impossible.
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Samael growled, charging into the fray with his sword held high.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In another combat trial, Acala wielded a Tetsubō from the weapon rack, its studded surface glowing red-hot as he smashed through holograms. He faced sixteen figures, his demonic eyes burning with chaotic flames. Breathing heavily, he fused his holy and devil auras, the golden-white and eerie-purple energies combining into a devastating blast that reduced the remaining holograms to slag.
"Amitabha," he murmured, his voice calm despite the exertion.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In a different room, Feng Yutu moved with the agility of a rabbit, her jade aura ears twitching as she delivered precise kicks and strikes. She faced sixteen Tier 8 holograms, her wind and light-infused attacks obliterating them with ease. Her metal vambraces gleamed as she danced through the battlefield, her movements a blur of speed and precision.
--------------------------------------------------------
Xiao Ying, in another combat room, regretted choosing an easier difficulty as she faced thirty-two Tier 8 holograms. Her earth aura spikes pierced through the figures, and she conjured aura weapons to fling at her opponents. Despite the ease, she focused on maximizing her points, her calm demeanor unwavering.
--------------------------------------------------------
In a healing trial room, a dark elf radiated a fusion of healing, wood, and life auras. She sat at the center, her golden eyes glowing as she mended the broken bodies of thirty-two Transcendence Realm holograms. Her beauty was otherworldly, her dark brown skin contrasting with her white and gold dress. She looked like a divine being, her presence both serene and powerful.
--------------------------------------------------------
Elsewhere, an apathetic woman swung her Tai Chi sword with mechanical precision, her expression unchanging even as injuries marred her body. Her beauty was undeniable, her tied-up black hair and dark brown eyes giving her an air of quiet strength. She moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, her focus unshakable.
--------------------------------------------------------
In another room, a seductive vampire laughed as she whipped her hologram opponents, her wine-red eyes gleaming with charm. Her wavy ginger hair and freckled face added to her allure, her fangs flashing as she struck with sadistic glee. She was a vision of beauty and danger, her movements as captivating as they were deadly.
--------------------------------------------------------
A tall woman stood in a frozen combat room, her purplish ice encasing the walls. She faced eight Floor 3 Transcendence holograms, her injuries bleeding but her smile wide and manic. Her pale grey eyes burned with fighting spirit, her gladius swinging with deadly precision as she brought an avalanche down on her foes.
--------------------------------------------------------
In a eerily quiet room, a handsome man with clock-like eyes manipulated time, slowing the holograms to a crawl. He waved his hand, erasing sixteen figures from existence. Sweat beaded on his brow as thirty-two holograms appeared, forcing him to reduce his time-slowing radius to three meters.
--------------------------------------------------------
A youthful boy teleported around his cube-shaped room, his laughter echoing as he turned the holograms' attacks against each other. He treated the trial as a game, his playful demeanor belying his immense skill. His smile was radiant, his joy infectious.
Info of the Day - The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire, inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, is the first human empire but not a territory. Adjacent to the Britannia Empire, it is renowned for its military prowess and innovative battle tactics. Much of its architecture is marble, and it is credited with inventing flying ships—a revolutionary advancement in Verus.
Flying ships are among the most important inventions in the world, as ancient teleportation circles were expensive and vulnerable. Enchanted flying ships reduced costs and increased safety, allowing many to travel simultaneously while runes fortified their defenses. The Roman Empire's legacy is one of strength, innovation, and enduring influence.