All of a sudden, though, everything was back to normal. Once more, I was outside the gate. My emotional wounds had become more salty, even if my physical scars in my abdomen and shoulder had healed. I no longer felt as if I was about to die, and my head felt better. Following those endless cycles, I came to terms with my fate and realised that this existence would not be a replica of the last one.
[System: Neuroguard |Level 2 --> Level 3|]
[System: Shadow Steps |Level 2 --> Level 3|]
Oh! I had acquired a new common skill called Neuroguard at Level 6, which allowed me to remain cool in difficult situations and repel mental attacks of the same or lower level. My shadow steps also levelled up, but that scar remained dreadful, and there was no sign of excitement left in my body.
But what bothered me was a visual that did not originate from my recollections. After all of my repeated images, I saw a man with golden hair with an emaciated body nailed to a tree through his heart, smiling.
As I approached the next gate, my thinking became confused. Why would the test reveal prior memories or regrets to a seven-year-old? Do they know about my regression? The fortune teller assured me that I was not alone, as many others had followed this path and will continue to do so.
If the eight gods understood, they would undoubtedly oppose it. Perhaps the Star Cosmic Abyss has a special ability. "uugh!" I have no idea what is happening. It would be better to focus on the trail rather than those damn gods.
After only two months following my celestial emergence, I had defeated this set of level 2 demons, an accomplishment that had taken me a decade of preparation in my former existence.
Then there was the second exam. I couldn't picture the test's developers expecting a 7-year-old to have regrets and defeat 3 level 2 goblins. So, why was I forced to go through this?
After approximately two minutes of wandering, I noticed the third gate. It was odd in that no creatures guarded it. When I entered the gate, I saw a lengthy corridor ahead of me, at the end of which stood a Level 4 goblin swordsman, also known as a sword hobgarch guarding the exit. Even in my prior existence, dealing with these rank-B creatures would have been a challenge to a level 5 like me.
The hobgarch wore patchwork armour, a mix of iron and leather stained with blood. His jagged helmet and large, gleaming sword added to his menacing appearance. He stood inside a big scarlet circle of enchantment. Even at his level, such a broad-reaching spell seemed excessive, as it would have a level 9 or above rune master to make it.
I needed to stop worrying about the spell and concentrate on how to fight the monster—or at least escape to the gate behind him as the circle ended 1 meter before the gate.
As I entered, the gate closed behind me. The hobgarch opened his eyes and started talking.
"Welcome, chosen human. I challenge you. Pass me to change your fate.
A speaking hobgarch? I'd never seen a talking monster before. Though Level 5 monsters are clever enough to form societies and even have names, they cannot speak human language, and their IQ is no higher than that of a chimp.
I honestly didn't believe I could overcome him. "Dammit."
I used Venomcraft to poison all of my throwing knives and then used Shadow Steps to confuse him by moving in several directions and tossing all twenty knives. He deflected eighteen of them; one wounded his left arm and the other lodged in his belly.
Oddly, it seemed like my hand was resisting the need to strike him like it was the fear of fighting something as strong as him would have been a death sentence, but with the circular boundary, I think there is a chance I might escape.
"Is that all you've got?" he said after my attack.
He swung his blade in a large arc. I blocked with my blade, but the impact knocked me down. As I landed on the ground and scrambled to my feet, pain rushed through my body. I used Venomcraft on my blade. If I couldn't overpower him, I would outwit him.
I raced forward, feinting left before hitting his leg. The poison began to take effect, slowing his movements, but he remained quick enough to grab me. His strength was monstrous. He grabbed my arm, and it seemed like he was going to crush it. Desperate, I cut it with the poisoned dagger in my other hand. As I tried to escape him, he kicked me, knocking me into the wall.
"Aagh!" I grit my teeth.
"Damn it..." But I was able to numb the discomfort because of the Neuroguard technique I had recently learnt.
As I struggled to stand, the hobgarch gave a cry of anger, his eyes flaming with wrath as he appeared to lose his mind. He charged towards me but was stopped due to the barrier, and I took the opportunity to charge as well.
This time, I used Shadow Mantle to provide a last diversion while moving out of the circle and towards the gate. The hobgarch paused, allowing me just enough time to toss my severed and poisoned arm at his face to distract him. The poison crept into his wound and caused him to wobble.
Finally allowing me to go past him as I had to escape. The agony was severe, but I couldn't let it end there.
As I proceeded towards the gate, I looked back and saw tears build up in his eyes. He said quietly, "Please... change... our fate..."
[System: "The new apostle has been chosen."]
[Race: Human
Star: Gemini
Sub-star: Serpens Noctis
Void Singularity
{Screen 1}
Star: Serpens Noctis: Level 2
Common skills:
Starforce vision: Level 1____*see details*
Eagle Vision: Level 1____*see details*
Venomcraft: Level 1____*see details*
Neuroguard: Level 6____*see details*| Level 0 —> Level 6 |
Special skills:
Veil Of Illusion: Level 3____*see details*| Level 2 —> Level 3 |
Assassins archery: Level 2____*see details*
Spectral Harbinger: Level 1____*see details*
Shadow Steps: Level 2____*see details*| Level 1 —> Level 2 |
Assassins knife: Level 1____*see details*
Samurai's sword: Level 1____*see details*
--------------------------:Level 1____*see details*
{screen 2}
Star: Cosmic Abyss: Level 0
Special skills:
Veil of Destiny: Level 1 *see details* | Level 0 —>Level 1 |
---------(9/10 SOULS ACQUIRED)
---------(2/10 KEY ACQUIRED)
< [Shadow Steps (Level 2): Enhances the user's speed by 40% in light conditions and 80% in darkness.] >
< [Neouroguard (Level 1): Reduces the user's emotion by 10%. ] >
....
< [Neouroguard (Level 6): 1) Reduces the user's emotion by 60%. 2) Allows the user to reflect any mental damage of level 6 or below.] >