Though Adonis didn't know it, once again, his luck shone through.
The main factor for his success during these two trials was age, mental age to be exact.
Had he taken these trials at any other age, he would've most likely failed, miserably so.
It was easy to convince a man who'd only known hell that it wasn't that hot. It was easy to convince an angel that Heaven was the standard.
It was easy to convince a miserable man that at the end of the road lay a tunnel of light where their suffering would finally have meaning and they would be rewarded for their endurance.
Without having one's horizons broadened, one had no perspective and without perspective, one had no context for anything.
Did Adonis truly understand how horrifying what he'd undergone at the hands of Aryel was? No, he didn't and that was a blessing in disguise which allowed him to form his pure heart as easily as breathing.
Did he understand why his personality was split and how sad it was? No.
Did he understand how twisted it was for his father to make him practice the Detachment Sutra? No.
Did he understand how truly alone he was? No.
These were all blessings he would hopefully only learn about in the years to come.
Who would've thought one's tragedy could act as such a blessing?
***
His halo faded away and his pure heart vanished. Though he wanted to sacrifice this experience now, it wasn't like Atryan had taught him how to do so.
He'd have to wait until he met with Uncle Seth once more.
In front of him, countless tiny motes of light coalesced into one amorphous blob of multicoloured light that constantly shifted and changed.
After a while, the blob took a humanoid shape and suddenly, its features began to shine through.
Long white hair, deep black eyes and an aura that reeked of majesty manifested from the blob as a young man appeared.
The qi in the surroundings shook and gathered, draping over him to form sky blue robes that perfectly fit him.
His eyes slowly fluttered open and his gaze focused on Adonis.
He looked him up and down then smiled as he waved his hand, signalling for him to make the first move.
Adonis didn't take any offence from this taunt and grabbed his spear as he shot at him with as much speed and power as he could garner.
Instantly, his gaze narrowed. Their difference in skill was divine.
With his bare hand, the young man deflected and parried every single attack he made with his spear as with impeccable footwork, he danced around Adonis and landed critical hits from time to time.
Even beyond that, though Adonis was the one attacking, he felt cornered and forced to continue. When he took a step back, the young man took a step forward, when he slowed down, the man sped up and when he tried to focus and think, a punch would land on his chin and knock him out for a moment.
It was suffocating to say the least.
"When you control the flow of battle, the world is your oyster. This extends to the real world as well, as a sovereign, nothing must be beyond your control. Whether it be yourself, the world or others."
"Treat it all as pieces to move along a board. Don't be scared to sacrifice pieces to advance as the goal is to checkmate, not to end up with the most pieces."
"Each step, each thought, each movement, each action and reaction must be measured and thought out."
The man parried yet another one of Adonis' thrusts and stepped forth, his palm striking forward as he sent Adonis flying.
"A King rules under the umbrella of a God. An Emperor stands against God. A God stands above all under his halo of creation. An Immortal outlasts all and is one with the world."
"The Sovereign puppeteers all."
A crown of golden light manifested atop his head as he spoke those words.
Suddenly, his presence shifted and everything seemed to fall under his rule.
His hand arose and from the distance, Adonis shot back to him, his neck landing in his opponent's palm as he looked into his eyes with hints of horror and awe.
"But of course, all sovereigns are different. All Gods are different. All Immortals are different. All Kings are different. All Emperors are different."
"Your style defines your sovereignty."
The crown atop his head began to fiercely spin as qi gathered around him and suddenly became a thick, golden energy that was rapidly syphoned by him.
"My sovereignty is Invincibility."
Adonis' eyes widened and alongside, the man grinned.
"It took me countless years of trial and error to form it but in the end it was worth it."
{Let me Go.}
Unwilling to allow the man to control the battle for so long, Adonis used his [Command] ability to attempt to free himself but alas, all he got in response was a dry chuckle.
"I guess you truly know nothing about aura, intent and sovereignty. What kind of idiot sent you here without teaching you this much?"
Seeing Adonis' fleeing gaze, the man's grin dropped.
"Don't tell me…you chose this trial without knowing anything about it?! Are you stupid?!" He practically barked out as his grip over Adonis' neck tightened.
"Do you…even understand what it means to form a Pure Heart? To form a Style? To become a sovereign? To have a sovereignty?!"
Adonis couldn't understand why the man was so angry but regardless, he didn't falter as his mind raced, trying to find ways he could use to free himself.
"Stupid idiot. You may have just ruined your future and instead of trying to find ways to-"
BANG!
Using the man's powerful arm, Adonis broke his own neck as his body twisted and rose, his leg driving into the man's face.
In shock, he let go of Adonis for an instant and Adonis took the opportunity to free himself and create distance.
[Layer; 1500x]
His neck immediately snapped back into place as the sickening sound of his bones cracking and creaking echoed through the arena.
The young man found himself to be at a loss for words.
"What kind of monstrous healing factor is that..? Boy, are you an Elf, perhaps? A half blood?"