NOVEL WEB Chapter 31: Embrace madness
In an instant, countless lights surged around him, and Orion saw his surroundings brighten, his vision gradually being covered by the glow!
Boom!
A sound like the world was splitting apart echoed from afar.
At that moment, Orion understood that this was the true power of the trial grounds' legacy, and he would battle the power that had accumulated over tens of thousands of years in this space!
Countless ancient beasts crawled from the earth, endless, like night descending upon the land.
Orion watched them quietly until the last glimmer of light vanished from the sky.
Demon Apes, Hellhounds, Flame Magical Bear... all elite creatures, without exception.
This was the SSS-grade trial, an unparalleled pressure that would bring despair to any giant who faced it.
This was the true test, a trial of life and death.
The silence of the night was like the calm before a storm, and Orion gripped his silver trident tighter, his gaze growing sharper and more determined.
Orion stepped back, raising his trident to summon a whirlwind, slicing a giant mosquito in two!
Then, he pressed forward, using the trident to cleave open the chest of a Flame Magical Bear!
Blood and entrails spilled out, and the bear roared in agony, a massive fireball forming in its mouth for a desperate attack.
The blazing flames illuminated Orion's face, reminiscent of the night Woofer died.
Orion's eyes turned cold.
With a swift upward strike, the icy blade of the trident pierced its jaw, driving through its skull!
Orion watched it die with indifference; this beast, which once pushed him to the brink, now seemed so insignificant.
"What a pity."
Orion sighed.
There was no time for reflection, as the deaths of these two beasts ignited the fury of all present. They roared, charging recklessly.
A beast tide, all elite-level!
Several smaller beasts were trampled to death in the chaos!
Orion raised his trident, channeling Blood Rage to strengthen his arms, using the speed advantage from Shadowstep to carve a path through the tide with sheer force!
The trident struck heavily, his strongest Blood Rage strike killed three beasts, and the splash effect felled many more, but it wasn't enough. The tide's momentum barely faltered.
More ancient beasts surged forward, catching Orion off guard and crashing into him!
Crack... He heard his ribs break as he hit the ground hard.
Before he could rise, the ground split open, a vine thicker than his arm wrapping around him and flinging him away!
The next moment, a massive mantis appeared in the air, seizing the opportunity to strike with glowing blue claws!
Orion grunted in mid-air, his back a bloody mess!
Gritting his teeth, he hurled his trident with all his might, pinning the mantis to the ground.
With a flash of light, the trident returned to his hand.
"This won't do, I need to regain control!" Orion thought.
He charged toward the vine, trident in hand.
Meanwhile, seven Hellhounds attacked from the side, their bloodthirsty fangs dripping with foul saliva, ready to tear the giant apart!
"Shadowstep!"
Orion deftly dodged the Hellhounds' assault, then countered with a cleaving strike, the blood-red trident slicing through the hounds!
[Whirlwind Slash]!
The seven Hellhounds vanished in a flash of light, unable to even cry out.
Orion exhaled heavily, but as he lifted his head, the world spun, his vision blurring!
"Ahhh—"
"Nooo—"
The Song of the Abyss, a soul attack!?
Among the beasts, several shaman-like creatures floated, chanting with reverence.
Orion clutched his head in agony, the soul attacks making it hard to control his body, barely maintaining his sanity.
In an instant, the beasts charged, ready to tear him apart!
Claws, voodoo, strangling, ramming, burning...
Endless pain engulfed him, but Orion stood through sheer will, swinging his trident, Blood Rage roaring to life, instantly slaying a kobold shaman.
As the shaman fell, a familiar chest appeared at his feet.
"A Survivor's Chest!"
Orion grabbed the chest, opening it immediately.
A silver glow enveloped him.
[You have gained the Berserk Aura]
[Effect: Activating the Berserk Aura sends you and nearby allies into a frenzy, increasing health, reducing pain, and negating curse effects.]
"You are responding to me," Orion glanced at the floating Titan's Heart, a smirk on his lips.
"Ahhh—"
The eerie song echoed again, and Orion steeled his mind, seeking to escape the soul-rending sensation by... abandoning consciousness!
Embrace madness!!!
The skill activated! The young giant's eyes filled with blood, berserk power coursing through him!
Slaughter! Just slaughter!
Become a behemoth!
In his berserk state, Orion shook off the curse's effects, his strength, speed, and endurance pushed to the limit, every strike full force!
Sword slashes, trident thrusts, spear throws!
Not enough, not enough!
Bite with teeth!
Kick with feet!
Tear with hands!
The beasts were mercilessly slaughtered, none left whole!
The battle raged on, time unknown, the crimson fading from Orion's eyes.
He nearly collapsed.
"Damn, completely spent..."
Orion's body ached, gasping for air, each breath like knives in his lungs.
Berserk maintained high combat power but drained him immensely, his body feeling like it would split, the pain unbearable.
He struggled to stand, finding his greatsword broken, the edges cracked, the blade dulled.
The spear was worse, shattered.
Only the trident remained intact.
"No, hold on, after all this, the trial should be nearly complete."
"Can't give up yet."
Orion glanced at the panel, then froze, speechless.
[Ancient Titan's Heart]
[Current Level: SSS]
[Energy Value: 10.4%]
10.4%???
What the fuck!
Orion's heart sank into despair, the terror dragging him into darkness, his mind reeling.
The slaughter, no less than a full SS-grade trial, was only 10.4% of SSS-grade progress?!
Why, why...
Orion sat in defeat, feeling unable to lift his weapon, repeating the question, his spirit nearly broken.
Suddenly, a tiger-like beast charged, knocking him away.
Orion's body fell like a broken kite, limp on the ground.
"Roar!!!"
The massive tiger beast charged, its claws growing larger in Orion's dimming vision, aiming for his heart.