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The conclusion of the sixth trial sent shockwaves across the entire realm. The earth quaked, the skies fractured, and the once-stable ground began to collapse. But as chaos unfolded, an energy bubble enveloped the children, shielding them from the onslaught of falling debris, molten metals, and the very fabric of the sky unraveling above.
The world crumbled into dust, but the transformation didn't stop there. The dust melted, bubbling into molten lava that surged across the lands like an angry sea. Then, inexplicably, the molten sea began to harden—its surface glowing white-hot like the sun. The terrain was jagged and uneven, impossible to stand upon or build anything on.
It wasn't long before the skies unleashed hundreds of thousands of colossal hammers. Each hammer struck with unrelenting force, refining the molten and fractured ground into an endless, flat expanse of dark, glistening metal. The transformation was brutal and otherworldly, yet undeniably purposeful.
But the spectacle was far from over.
A sharp snap echoed across every corner of the realm, reverberating like a divine command. From the blackened sky, hundreds of thousands of massive dirt giants—each the size of a mountain—crashed down onto the metallic plain. What followed was pure mayhem: a brawl of unimaginable proportions. Limbs flew, dirt sprayed, and the sound of their titanic clash echoed like thunder.
After an hour of chaos, silence descended. Only one giant remained standing—a monstrous figure now five kilometers tall, having consumed its fallen brethren. This lone behemoth began digging, clawing through the dirt until it reached the metallic layer beneath. With voracious hunger, it started devouring the refined ground, its form shifting and growing darker with every bite. Slowly, it transformed into a towering black monstrosity, a fusion of dirt and metal radiating an aura of primal power.
The hammers returned, this time accompanied by an enormous burning furnace that hovered ominously in the air. An unseen force lifted the monstrous giant, ignoring its deafening roars of defiance. It was too prideful—or perhaps too mindless—to feel fear or plead for mercy. The furnace consumed the giant, its heat intensifying until the creature glowed red-hot. The hammers struck again and again, each blow echoing across the realm like the heartbeat of a god.
For an entire month, the relentless pounding continued. When it finally ceased, the monstrous giant was no more. In its place stood a magnificent mansion, its grandeur rivaling that of a small city. Its dark metallic walls gleamed ominously under the light of the realm's strange skies.
To the children watching from their protective bubble, the process felt like mere minutes. Those attuned to elements of steel, fire, earth, or heat felt a surge of enlightenment. For the children steeped in knowledge from birth, a realization dawned: this spectacle would hold vital importance when they sought to ascend to B-rank.
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Author's Note: I've realized that making the children one year old doesn't make sense, no matter how much I exaggerate their abilities as awakened beings. So, I'm retroactively changing their age to eight years old. Please mentally adjust accordingly because I'm too lazy to rewrite this part myself.
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Before Asmodeus could sneer at Dreamer's absurd methods of aiding the children in mastering their elements, the show resumed.
The furnace and hammers exploded into molten steel, their fragments scattering across the barren wasteland. The mansion, however, remained unscathed, taking its rightful place at the center of the realm.
Suddenly, the sky fractured once more, this time splitting open like a cosmic wound. From the rift emerged a blazing blue star, its light flooding the world with an otherworldly radiance. Scientifically, it made no sense, but logic held no dominion here. This was a realm where dreams—and nightmares—became reality.
Asmodeus, usually unflappable, found himself both appalled and impressed by Dreamer's masterful manipulation of the domain. Before he could voice his thoughts, the sky darkened again, shrouded by swirling clouds of corruption. Lightning rained down in blinding torrents, followed by a deluge of rain—if it could even be called that. Each drop fell like a missile, shattering the ground with the force of a thousand storms. The dirt held firm against this relentless assault, its resilience a testament to the divine craftsmanship of the realm.
For the children, years passed like fleeting moments. Sixty percent of the world transformed into a vast, turbulent sea. The remaining land flourished into lush green forests, teeming with life. Yet the mansion stood untouched, its surroundings unchanged—a stark contrast to the evolving landscape.
"Now for the final touches," boomed a voice that resonated with divine authority.
From the heavens descended demonic birds, their wings casting ominous shadows over the land. From the earth emerged colossal worms and insects, their sheer size dwarfing even the tallest trees. The forests gave birth to demonic beasts, while the stones themselves birthed cyclopes of immense power. The dangers were meticulously organized: the inner circle surrounding the mansion housed harmless animals, but the further one ventured, the more perilous the creatures became. The outermost reaches were the domain of the most fearsome demonic entities.
Still, the creation was not complete. Rivers branched out from the sea, some flowing with fresh water, others with salt. Only the skilled—or the desperate—would discern their differences.
Then came the final act.
The ground trembled as countless roots burst forth, sprawling across the land. They twisted and converged above the mansion, merging into the form of an enormous floating tree. Its branches stretched across the sky, and its leaves shimmered with an ethereal glow. From the tree's foliage, wood elves descended, scattering across the world and into the mansion itself.
"Dreamer definitely has a thing for elves," Asmodeus mused with begrudging understanding.
A satisfied laugh echoed through the realm, followed by a voice that resonated with divine authority:
"Welcome to the seventh trial!"
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