(Sorry to disturb y'all, but I made a poll on discord[link in bio] to help me decide the next World. The choices are SAO - Elaina's Journey - Quintessential Quintuplets - Charlotte - Eighty-Six. There is plot already covered for all of them, so it's just a matter of your preference. If you want, please join the discord and vote on that poll. I'd be really grateful to anyone willing to do that! Now I'll leave you to the chapter)
--- Akira ---
Without fail, I returned to that cursed [Rest Room].
"Fuuuuuck!" I exclaimed, frustration boiling over as I slammed my fist into the kitchen table, shattering it.
Despite knowing that this was my only option, I couldn't help but resent it.
This might have been the path Alexia would have wanted most, but for me, it felt like the worst possible outcome.
While the System had gained some influence over that world, it wasn't always a drawback.
In fact, it would be compelled to protect it in case of any threats or disasters.
Now, however...
The System had every incentive to target Alexia.
Now that she's a Trial Taker under the System's control, it has the opportunity to manipulate her, just as it has attempted with me countless times before.
With all my memories intact within her, she will not easily fall for its tricks, but nonetheless, I feel like I've just eaten a bag full of shit.
Tch.
If only that fucking Eye of Judgement didn't get in the way, I would've achieved a much more preferable outcome...
---
After venting out my frustration and taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I could finally process everything that happened in that five seconds.
Numerous doubts and questions swirl in my mind, yet answers seem out of reach at this moment.
But dwelling on the past won't alter a thing. It's beyond my control.
However, that doesn't mean it's the end of the road.
Because right now, reasons to get stronger at any cost are flooding my mind.
Fucking the System had always been the top 1 priority, but now, there's another being I really need to beat up.
A particular, gigantic eye.
But I'm aware of my current limits.
How could I target something even this damned System is scared shitless of?
Even if I cannot act right now, though, does not mean I'll forget.
I'll carry this burden with me, etching it into my very being, so deep that not even a complete memory wipe could erase the anger and helplessness I experienced in that moment.
I will hold onto the belief that Alexia and I will cross paths once more, in the distant future.
There were moments when she made me think. If she were a fellow Trial Taker like me, she'd likely surpass me with ease.
Right now, I chose to believe in that feeling.
To reach a satisfying point myself, though, I need to get stronger.
So much stronger than I currently am, that my current self wouldn't even be able to grasp it.
Reaching that level will not be easy, but even so, I'm ready.
I'll push forward, step by step, determined to overcome any obstacle in my path. If running fails, I'll walk; if walking fails, I'll crawl. And if even that isn't enough, I'll sacrifice everything, even myself, to reach just one small step beyond what seems possible.
Never underestimate the fury of a cornered animal, even if it appears as insignificant as a tiny ant in the moment.
Before you realize it, that seemingly inconsequential creature will consume you entirely.
---
It's all nice and fun to set my own goals for the distant future, but right now, the present is what matters the most.
There are a few things I had not checked, but after calming down and carefully scouring through the prompts, I caught back.
While there were notices scattered about Talents interacting due to Authorities and leveling up as a result, as well as similar occurrences with Skills, I disregarded them all.
No, what I was looking at, was a situation I had missed.
There was one peculiar Quest that had been nagging at me for years.
[Marriage: The First Step]
This was 'supposed' to be an introduction Quest of sorts? that awarded 10 levels per the completion.
Y'know, the usual I did countless times in both Trials.
That's all there was to it.
I had accomplished the simple tasks of meeting the princesses, but... there was one I missed for a lot.
Save Alexia or Iris Midgar(0/1)
This quest wouldn't complete, no matter how many times I saved both of them.
I even thought, at a certain point, that the Quest must've been bugged or something.
But, just after I managed to have Alexia become a Trial Taker, the quest...was completed.
That made no sense.
How could a simple and innocent Quest issued to me at random the moment I entered the Royal Spellsword Academy...
Also, if I didn't go through this "Route", would I have failed the quest?
Then, does that mean, if I just left the World normally, she would've died anyway...?
And not only that, the Trial itself would've been considered a Failure, because in the failure conditions, it was specified the Trial itself would fail.
Just thinking about it all made a chill crawl down my spine.
The only plausible explanation is to regard this as a hidden Personal Quest disguised as an ordinary one, or something similar to that.
But even if that's the case, it was a totally random event for me to choose this route.
...Or is it?
No, it's better to stop this cycle of doubt, because right now, I'll only get insecurity and worries out of it.
...If it was just this, then it might've been acceptable to consider this matter a thing for the future and simply go on, but...
[You have met the hidden conditions]
[New
[Marriage: The Second Step]
[Description: During the Second Trial, you have chosen... Alexia Midgar! A fine choice indeed. Now, this story has two protagonists. One shrouded in Light, and another shrouded in Darkness. As you are the Light, please enlighten and grow beyond the Entity<System>'s expectations!
Tasks To Complete:
Reach Trial 75th(0/1)
Meet your wife again(0/1)
Awaken ???(Level Restriction: The Level of your Existence is too low)(0/1)
Ascend ???(Level Restriction: The Level of your Existence is too low)(0/1)
Enlighten ???(Level Restriction: The Level of your Existence is too low)(0/1)
Additional Information:
The Trial Taker<Alexia Midgar> has also received her own version of this <Multiversal> Quest. If your fated soulmate will complete this quest, you will know it.
The First of the two to complete it will gain 10X the rewards.
On Failure: Both of your souls will be erased.
On Success: Level Up(5000), [???] Unique Skill, [??? Generation] Growth Skill, [Love's Dignity] Passive ??? Skill, ... , (Level Restriction: The Level of your Existence is too low)...]
This quest is weird.
There are strange <> here and there. The rewards are strange, the Tasks are weird.
Honestly, it feels like someone else has issued a Quest through the System's normal prompt style.
It just looks weird as fuck.
But this is somewhat fun in its own way.
It feels like me and Alexia are competing just like the old days.
Because I'm totally getting that 10X reward, no chances I'd give that up.
I hope you'll feel the same instead of needlessly worrying about things we have no control of at the moment.
The nervousness that had been gnawing at me for a while seemed to ease a bit, all thanks to those silly thoughts of mine.
However, dwelling on a Quest that I can't make heads or tails of right now is not productive. It's best to set it aside for the moment and move on to more pressing matters.
One of them being...
[Congratulations! You have completed the 2nd Trial of Fate]
[
Achievements:
Your newly formed Authority has manifested
You are the first Trial Taker to manifest an Authority in the 2nd Trial
You have killed a being whose Combat Prowess exceeds [Extreme]
You have created a ripple in space using sheer strength and speed, without using any Skill to distort reality
You have defied the Unive#?_@ Laws@##########!!!!!
You have defied the System
Hidden Achievement! You managed to reveal your identity to a [Fate-Constricted Being] without suffering any Penalty!
You have surpassed Lv. 300
You have witnessed the secrets of the 2nd Trial, cleared every single hidden Quest, and gone through the [Best Possible Path].
.
.
.
.
]
[All your Achievements will play a crucial role in determining your final Rating for this Trial]
[Note: To Ensure Fairness, your Rating will be evaluated based on the number of Trials you've successfully completed, the level of experience you had prior to this Trial, and various other factors...]
[Final Considerations: You have done feats considered beyond impossible for even Gods and Demons themselves. Everything else does not matter in comparison]
[Rating: EX]
[As per your Rating, you will be given ridiculously huge rewards]
[Your rewards will now be given]
[You have obtained the Absolute Skill [Ice]]
[Ice]
[Description: You have started to gain recognition, to form something that wasn't there before. Your second calling is Ice. It will be able to protect or attack, at your call.
[Effect: Your manipulation of ice will significantly increase. When the skill is active, your affinity to [Ice] will passively increase]
[Limitations: None]
[Cooldown: None]
[Note: It will consume an astronomical amount of [Mana] to use it]
[You have obtained the Absolute Skill [Fire]]
[Description: Your third calling is Fire. It will be able to scorch any enemy to death at your command. Particularly unruly]
[Passive Effect: Any and all flames you create will turn into [Absolute Flame]]
[Active Effect: Your flames have no limitations on the actual [Strength] they can reach. The more Mana you pour into it, the stronger they'll be]
[Limitations: None]
[Cooldown: None]
.
.
.
[Your Talents and Skills will massively level up]
[Your Authorities have been nourished and strengthened. The limitations imposed on them have been slightly released]
[Your have obtained the Authority of [Balance]]
[Your newly birthed Authority of Balance has looked at your Status]
[The Authority of Balance is not satisfied with the previous arrangement of the [Lv. 100 Skill Tickets]]
[A random Talent will raise to Lv. 100 to balance things out]
[Note: Fairness—]
[The Authority of Balance argues it's only fair, given the EX rating]
[Note: ....]
[The Authority of the Sword is satisfied with the new Authority. It gives it a passing mark]
[The Authority of Balance scoffs, calling the Authority of the Sword unbalanced]
[The Authority of the Sword does not care. It is only natural for it to be unbalanced, for its host was thrown in an unbalanced situation, to begin with]
[The Authority of Balance is...]
.
.
.
[As per your reward, you will be given one last thing you need the most]
.
.
.
[You have gained a [Wish Card]]
[Note: This Card is an usable. It will create something out of the System Shop that will be of help to you. As a passive effect of this card, the efficiency of Skill Points spent per value will be 500% higher than normal]
I don't even know when to start.
I sighed.
Let's start analyzing things one at a time...
---
Author's Note
I know I promised the Status, but I'm sorry T_T, next chapter :).