"This is how we live, how we walk the path meant for us. No matter what, life is precious," said Sun Wukong. "There are times when one loses control, driven by exhaustion, but in truth, humans suffer far more than a monkey ever could, don't they?"
Girmora and Hoghor nodded in agreement, their gazes shifting to the chaotic sky above—not because it was ruined, but because it mirrored the reality before them: the inescapable grip of cause and effect that bound them until they could transcend into the highest phase of humanity.
"Alright, it's time to proceed to the second trial, 'Madness Problem.' This one tests our mental endurance against the tasks set before us. I don't know much about it, but you'd best be prepared," Sun Wukong said.
"For tonight," Hoghor interjected, "we should rest without worrying about anything but tomorrow. We don't know what awaits us, nor what might come to pass in this very night."
Girmora began preparing a makeshift meal, lighting a stick and using a stone as a substitute for a cooking pot. With the limited ingredients available, he scribbled down a rough recipe before eventually finishing the dish.
Once the food was ready, a savory aroma wafted through the air. Sun Wukong and Hoghor were surprised to find it was a simple vegetable stir-fry. They had no idea how Girmora managed to procure the ingredients but felt deeply grateful nonetheless.
"Alright, let's eat before we move on to the second trial tomorrow," said Sun Wukong.
The three beings ate in silence, each lost in thoughts of the challenges ahead. The "Madness Problem" loomed over them, an enigma yet an undeniable threat. Their recent experience in the "Trial of Burning Memories" had stripped away their facades, leaving them raw and transformed.
As night fell over their makeshift camp, the darkness brought not fear but a lingering unease. Tomorrow promised trials beyond their comprehension, but for now, they chose to remain in this fleeting moment of calm.
At dawn, they rose without a word and began their journey to the location of the second trial. The path led them through an otherworldly landscape, steep and surreal, a place impossible in the mortal realm.
The trial site came into view—a vast structure of interconnected geometric shapes pulsating with internal energy. Inside, they found themselves separated into individual chambers, each designed to impose a unique form of cognitive stress.
For Girmora, the room presented a series of conflicting tasks, where completing one would nullify the other, creating an endless cycle of futility. His heavenly training urged him to maintain order, yet every action only spawned greater chaos.
Sun Wukong's chamber thrust him into multiple timelines simultaneously. He existed in hundreds of moments at once, each decision spawning new branches of possibility. The weight of infinite choices bore down on his mind.
Hoghor's chamber was a space where knowledge became poison. Each fact he learned unraveled his understanding further. The scholar within him grappled with the instinct to reject information for the sake of survival. He questioned how he had come so far—was it due to his isolation over millennia? Was that all he was?
The true nature of the trial revealed itself gradually. It wasn't designed to drive them mad but to force them to function within madness—to retain clarity while accepting that reality itself might be inherently irrational.
Girmora's meticulously ordered mind began to embrace the chaos, reconciling it with the bitterness he had endured over millennia. He realized he was not a mere tool but a living being with the freedom to express and opine. Enlightenment dawned upon him.
From Sun Wukong's perspective, he found himself in a state of Buddhist transcendence, reliving his time as a reckless warrior in the heavenly palaces. Though a Buddha by title, Sun Wukong understood why he had always pursued power so relentlessly.
Hoghor's trial delved into the core of his identity as a scholar, challenging the idea that knowledge itself could be destructive. The values instilled by his parents—of understanding as a path to peace—faced their ultimate test. He endured the bitter truth of a world that vilified his race as destroyers of humanity.
The trial spanned three days for the trio, though time held little meaning within those chambers. When they emerged, the transformation within them was undeniable.
They were now at a more mature stage than before, truly understanding what reality meant in their lives. Parts of their lives had been wrong, but all of it was their choice before they ultimately became better, growing more with each passing day. They were no longer children; it was clear that they now thought much further ahead about what they would do.
At this moment, they met again at the starting point, and Hoghor greeted his two friends first with a half-bow. "How was your exam? I think this one was easier than the previous ones, don't you think so too?"
"I think so too. Why not? Before, we were really pressured to the point of almost losing our minds. Now, we're only tested for a few days, not like before," Sun Wukong responded.
"I agree," Girmora said. He was now far from who he used to be—more serious, a real rapid development that had taken place within him.
Now, they both gazed at the sky. They were much better than before; they didn't destroy the exam room. They were now performing to the best of their abilities, though they had broken the unwritten rule that they were supposed to be here for five years, whereas they finished in just a few days.
They were no longer anxious about their lives because they had now made more solid plans compared to before. They could now reach their goal, Edna, with the experiences they had gained so far. But it wasn't over yet. There were still 18 exams ahead of them, each of which would surely become more difficult, as they had already grown far beyond their previous phase.
Then the rain began to fall. They felt the cool air and heard the natural world echo with the beautiful and endless sound of birds singing. The soothing sound of the rain made them feel calmer and more relaxed. They were now at a stage of complete relaxation, their ears pampered by the sounds of nature, until they took shelter under a large, lush tree.
"This kind of rain is the best thing a living being can experience in their lifetime, isn't it?" Sun Wukong said.
"You're right," Hoghor replied.
The three of them rested under the tree, sitting and leaning against it. They were not getting wet because this was a gentle rain, not a downpour with wind. The tree was large enough and its dense leaves prevented the water from reaching them.
Although they didn't really need sleep, they began to close their eyes—not without reason. They simply wanted to feel the comfort of sleep again after so long. They closed their eyes and drifted off into sleep, surrounded by the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of nature echoing around them. The serene and cool environment made them feel truly at ease.