The Spirit considered him for a while. It looked pale, which was impressive for a ghost. Thenโ
๐๐๐๐ฅโฆ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ค๐ช, it said.
Zane blinked at it.
๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. it choked. ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ค๐๐ฅ๐ช! ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐! ๐๐๐๐ฅโฆ
They stared at each other. They seemed to be doing that a lot. The Spirit started puzzling at him.
"Hmm," said Zane.
๐๐๐๐, it said at last. ๐๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐๐ . ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ?
"No."
โฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ค๐ฅ๐๐.
Another silence. Zane wondered if he should say sorry or something.
ThenโNo. In Zane's opinion, one should never apologize for being too big. It would be another one of his wise sayings, he decided. He ought to write these downโhe wasn't sure he could remember them all. Usually he just told Reina when they came to him, which was pretty much the same thing.
The Spirit had its hands on its hips now.
"Uh," said Zane. "What now?"
โ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐, it said. ๐'๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
"Okay."
They stood there for a bit longer.
๐ธ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ, said the Spirit. โ๐๐ฃ๐'๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐'๐๐ ๐๐ .
It proposed they run the First Trial again, and again, and again. Rapid-fire. Until it actually tempered Zaneโsince that first go clearly barely did anything at all. "Sure," said Zane agreeably.
The theory was this should get his Shield adapted to taking some solid load. That meant throwing heavy-duty soul attacks at him until he felt it. Only then could it stretch beyond its limits.
So the Spirit fired up the ghost-dragon-thing again and got it to start spewing as fast as it could. When it ran out the Spirit just spun it up again. The shots splattered all over on Zane's Moon-shield. He kept holding on.
The dragon hacked out a few dozen more of those ghost-fireballs before he started feeling the heat. He closed his eyes, honed in on the sensationโon the way his Skill brought out the Pagoda within. Each time he drew on it it only deepened his connection to it.
At the start he had to grasp pretty hard for it. But a dozen shots inโ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ -> ๐๐
Then again, another dozen shots laterโ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ -> ๐๐๐
Thirty or forty shots in, he could reach for it pretty easy and it would come.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ -> ๐๐
When that ghostly power hit him it got sucked straight into his Pagoda. Like it was making contact with a black holeโit struck the edge, and flared briefly, and justโฆ vanished. Erased. There was no sign of damage to the treasure at all.
The Spirit had some theories as to why his version was so strong at the start. The treasure expanded to suit the wielder, it thought. So even though it was fairly low-Level, he could still use a pretty big chunk of it.
As the dragon-breaths stacked upโand the poor ghost-dragon-head started to wheeze and sputterโZane's moon started getting more robust too. Filling in. It went from almost a dark moon to coloring in a thick edgeโa sliver of a crescent.
Eventuallyโฆ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ -> ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ -> ๐
By then it had reached a full proud bulky half-moon. And it came as soon as Zane called, like a muscle flexing. The ghost-dragon could hardly do anything to it now. Even after expending everything it had, over and over.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ [๐ผ๐ก๐๐] ๐ -> ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ [๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ช] ๐๐๐
The whole thing took most of an hour, maybe two. The dragon seemed a little apologetic by the end of it, like it was trying its best. Zane was just a little too big.
The Spirit gave the beast a sympathetic pat on the head and dismissed it.
๐๐๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐, ๐ฅ๐๐๐? said the Spirit.
Zane nodded.
๐๐๐๐, ๐'๐๐ ๐๐. It opened its mouth as if it wanted to say more, then closed it and shook its head. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐. โ๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐?
It didn't even stop to let Zane answer this time. It just gave a grunt. ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ค๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐. โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ . ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐: ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ช!
This one came subtly. A field of sprightly man-sized flowers bloomed around him, swollen with pollen and strange fungi that glowed radioactive colors. They started spraying him with all kinds of weird spores.
They didn't hit his Shield directly. They came softlyโlike they were trying to sneak past. It took a different kind of effort to resist. The first time he tried it, a few got through. He sneezed a bit, but that was the brunt of the damage.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ -> ๐๐
And that was all.
He was pretty sure he would've been fine even without the Shield. It felt weird to him, but it wasn't too bad. It would've felt worse if he hadn't just Leveled his Shield a bunch, he knew. But as it was he could take it quite well.
๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐, said the Spirit. โฆ๐ธ๐๐ช๐ฅ๐๐๐๐? โ๐ ?
Zane shrugged.
It threw up its hands.
๐ฝ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ค.
It gave a pause. ๐'๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐. โ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ค. โ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐.
"I'm ready," said Zane.
They resorted to spamming him again. Back-to-back-to-back.
Soon he got better at resisting the soft subtle things as well as the hard direct things. His connection grew so strong he could feel it and the corporeal bond inside of him, a brilliant bloody cord. And it bloomed strong every time he was under attackโalmost subconsciously now. Flaring out, taking shots at the slightest notice. Swallowing them utterly.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ -> ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ -> ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ -> ๐๐
"You still don't need to rest? At all?" said the Pagoda Spirit. It was getting slightly incredulous again.
Zane shook his head. "I can keep going."
They kept going.
His moon shield just kept filling out, blanketing his soul in that form-fitting ironclad armor. Impenetrable. Untilโ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ -> ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ [๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ช] ๐ -> ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ [๐๐ช๐ฅ๐๐๐] ๐๐๐
Now it was a nice three-quarters moon. He felt strong. Good. Amped up.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃ, said the Spirit. ๐๐๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค, ๐ฅ๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ฃ๐. โ๐ ๐จ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ช โ๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃโ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ค. ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ช ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ช ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฅ.
"Hm," said Zane. He felt like he'd barely gotten started. He said so to the Spirit.
It considered him for a long while. It had a strange look in its eyes. Like it was debating whether it should do something it wasn't supposed to.
๐๐๐๐, it hedged. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐โฆ ๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ค๐โฆย It paused. Shook its head.
โ๐ โ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐. โ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ฅ. ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐จ, ๐๐๐ช ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐ช. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ค๐'๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฃ โ๐ ๐ฃ๐ โ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค.
Zane perked up. "What?"
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ช ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐,it clarified.
"No," said Zane. "Before that."
๐๐๐๐ฅ? said the Spirit. โฆ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐?
Zane nodded. "Give it to me. I will take this Third Trial."
You're serious.
"Yes."
๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค, warned the Spirit. ๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃโ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ'๐ค ๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐!
"Give it to me," said Zane. "I want it. I want to be overkill."
Something about the idea pleased his Spirit, deep downโฆ and so far, nothing had even challenged him. He had this. He was very confident in his bodyโbut in matters of the soul, he was even more confident.
The Spirit hesitated. Thenโโฆ๐๐๐๐โฆ.๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ค๐โฆ
It gave him another once-over. ๐น๐๐! ๐ธ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ. ๐ผ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค, ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐๐-๐ ๐โฆ
It puzzled it out like it was doing some back-of-the-napkin calculations, then nodded, satisfied. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ง๐. ๐๐๐คโ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐'๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐. โฆ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ ๐'๐ ๐ค๐๐ช.
"I am big," Zane agreed.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐, ๐ฅ๐๐๐, said the Spirit. ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐!
And storm clouds puffed up the skies, growling hungrily. Howling winds swirled, lashed all around him. And the whole lair dimmed, blackenedโฆ
๐น๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐โโ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐! ๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐๐ช ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ค๐, ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ธ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐โฆ
A spirit creature broke out of the dark masses. At first, Zane thought it was just another chunk of cloudโand it was, kind of. It was very buff. Each muscle was a puff of storm-cloud. It was a nebulous thing, letting off jet streams. Its eyes were crackling balls of lightning. Lightning crackled down the length of itโit opened its black maw, let out a screech. Pure howling wind.
Tornado and thunder raged down its gullet. Gestating some electric blast.
Zane watched it all expectantly.
There really was something different to it. It was not bigger than Zane. But it did glow with a different kind of brightness. Like it existed more solidly in the Astral Plane than Zane did. Its aura felt more solid here too. The Spirit was rightโit did feel on a whole different level to those other two.
He braced his Shield.
It opened its mouth. Mouth lighting up a buzzing, blistering white. And blasted him.
A mad rush of lightning, spewing wildly. His world whited out. He took it right to the face.
He staggered a good two steps.
He felt it crackling all over his shieldโit felt like it'd been walloped by a hammer. Most of it pulsed into the Pagoda, grounded thereโbut for a second there he'd been kind of jittery.
He was mostly just surprised. Twitching a little, blinking the light out of his eyesโnot really hurt. Just wobbly.
He was pretty happy with how he took that. Even he was pleasantly surprised. That was a Nascent Soul-Level shotโand he just ate it.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ -> ๐๐
It was already the highest-grade Skill he had. Earth - Mythic. After this it would be the next rank entirely.
Then he realized the demon wasn't done. Its mouth was still open; its gullet still seethed lightning. That was just the opening volley.
Uh-oh.
Then it hit him.
Slammed right into his shield. Crashed all over itโฆ cracked it down the middle. He had to really fight, grit his teeth, just to keep it togetherโ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก!
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ -> ๐
The more it raged at him, the more it smacked at him, the more he felt his shield adapting. Getting stronger.
But not as fast as it was breaking. He was doing his best to keep it all together but it was starting to look like the surface of a dropped eggโblinding seams splitting down the length of it. The whole red disc started to tremble, his crimson armor cracking at every jointโ
Then it all shattered.
The Pagoda didn't shatterโjust his connection to it. And the last of the lightning descended on him.
Smashed straight into him. Tore through his soul-bodyโand had its way with him there. He didn't have any of the protections of his mortal body. The only thing he had was that it had to spread quite far to cover him, so no one part of him got roasted too bad. But stillโ
For a second he stood there. Just shuddering. Grunting. Teeth clenched. He was mostly only upright because his soul was locked dead-tight. He was having trouble mustering a coherent thought.
And then, slowly, like an old tree toppling, he fell over.
He landed facefirst, which was not surprising. For a while he just lay there flat, whole body twitching and spasming, feeling everything spiking up in sharp stabbing painsโฆ
He ended up a smoking flat heap.
He rolled over, groaning. He saw the old Spirit standing over him wide-eyed. It looked concerned.
Zane picked himself up, brushed himself off. He frowned at his hands.
"Ow," said Zane.
โฆ๐ธ๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ?
"Yeah."
He stretched a bit. Everything hurt. It got him pretty goodโhis head especially. It felt like a raw soul wound; it throbbed something awful.
But he was still thinking about his Shield, the moment it broke. Frowning.
He could still take more. He had been way too relaxed there. That was not his best effort. It was from the last two Trials, he feltโhe got complacent.
๐๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐โ
"No," said Zane. He clenched his fists. His eyes grew bright. "That just caught me off guard."
But now it had woken him up. For the first time this whole Trial, he had a challenge.
For the first time, it gave him a real fight.
He smashed his fists together.
"Again."