webnovel Chapter 99: Who Created the Trial?
Chapter 99: Who Created the Trial?
The oppressive pressure around her presence softened slightly, and when she spoke again, her tone was different no longer sharp or mocking. It sounded more like an elder giving advice to someone younger.
"It’s okay to feel guilty," she said calmly. "In fact, you should."
Kelly remained silent, listening.
"But it is not entirely your fault."
She folded her arms lightly.
"You used magic without having the proper knowledge of it. That alone makes mistakes inevitable."
Her gaze steadied on him.
"So remember this, boy learn from it."
A brief pause followed before she finished.
"And the next time you form a bond... choose a partner properly."
Kelly kept his head lowered, staring at the ground. Inside him, a storm of emotions churned guilt, grief, anger, and exhaustion all tangled together until he could barely separate one from the other. For a long while, he said nothing. Then finally, in a quiet voice, he spoke.
"There won’t be a next time."
The woman raised an eyebrow slightly. Kelly’s fists tightened again, though his voice remained low.
"I don’t want to deal with this kind of pain again."
An audible sigh escaped the woman. She looked at him with a gaze that clearly said he was still far too childish. Yet instead of scolding him again, she spoke in a lighter tone, almost as if she were trying to break the heaviness in the air.
"Every drunkard says that after their first bad night," she remarked casually.
"Doesn’t mean they actually mean it."
That finally got a reaction. Kelly looked up and glared at her defiantly.
"We’ll see."
The woman chuckled softly.
"Heh... indeed we will."
She smirked faintly, clearly amused by the stubborn glare he was giving her.
"You’re still far too wet behind the ears, boy, if you think you can prove me wrong."
Then, still wearing that amused expression, she continued speaking.
"Now then," the woman said after a brief pause, "for your last question... the trial you’re so curious about."
Kelly blinked...Right, the trial. He nodded quickly, a little embarrassed. After everything she had just explained, his mind had been so overwhelmed that he had almost forgotten the actual predicament he was in. The danger that had brought him here in the first place. The trial. Looking at her expectantly, he hurriedly asked the first thing that came to mind.
"Who created it?"
The woman answered without hesitation.
"You already know."
Her voice was calm and matter of fact.
"It was created by #######."
Kelly frowned.
"Huh?"
He scratched his head in confusion.
"I didn’t understand a thing," he admitted. "It’s the same as that voice earlier I can’t understand the name."
The woman looked at him with clear disdain.
"Of course you can’t," she said flatly. "The name itself holds value. You need to be sufficiently strong just to comprehend it..."
Kelly blinked, then groaned loudly in frustration.
"Hahh... what kind of nonsense is that?"
The woman didn’t even react to his irritation.
"Don’t complain," she replied coldly. "Blame yourself for being weak, boy."
"No that’s not even the point!" Kelly snapped, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Ahhh... forget it."
He exhaled sharply and waved the topic away.
"So what exactly is this thing? And more importantly, how do I get out of this trial thingy..."
The woman answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Simple."
A faint smirk appeared on her face.
"Just pass it..."
Kelly felt his cheeks twitch. A dozen sarcastic replies rushed to the tip of his tongue, but strangely, no words came out. He simply stood there, jaw tightening. The woman glanced at him once and immediately understood what he wanted to say.
"Believe me, boy," she said calmly, "there is no other way."
Her gaze remained steady.
"No power in this world can help you escape it. Either you pass the trial... or you die."
She paused briefly before adding bluntly,
"And the chances of dying are... astronomical."
Kelly swallowed.
"I really don’t have a good feeling about this," he muttered.
The woman sighed again probably for the nth time since their conversation began. She looked almost exhausted from having to explain things to him.
"Stop whining, boy," she said at last.
"The opportunity you have right now... people would literally die to obtain it."
Her tone became firmer.
"Do not waste it."
She gestured slightly around them.
"A trial created by him is no ordinary test. If you survive it, the benefits you gain will help you in countless ways."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"The advantages you obtain here will easily surpass the advantages those so-called geniuses struggle to gather outside."
She folded her arms.
"So cherish it."
"Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you."
Then a faint knowing smile appeared on her face.
"And it might even help you reach a little close towards that ambition of yours."
Kelly straightened unconsciously when he heard the seriousness in her voice for the first time. But when she mentioned his ambition, excitement crept back into his chest. His mind instantly filled with questions again. Just as he was about to open his mouth,
"Alright, that’s enough Q&A for now, boy."
The woman cut him off.
"You already know far more than you should."
Her tone was calm but firm.
"This is more than enough for the stage you are in."
Then she added quietly,
"And more importantly... time is up."
The moment she said that, Kelly noticed something strange. Her figure already faint began to grow even more transparent, like mist slowly dissolving into the air. Panic immediately shot through him.
"Wait!" he shouted.
"Don’t go yet! I still don’t understand most of this shit!"
But the woman continued fading, completely ignoring his protests. Her outline blurred, fragments of light breaking away from her form. Kelly looked around helplessly before asking the only thing that came to his mind.
"Will I... see you again?"
For a brief moment, the fading figure seemed to pause. Then the woman smiled perhaps for the last time.
"Soon, boy."
Her voice was softer now, distant.
"But first... focus on getting stronger."
Her form scattered further, almost gone. Only her voice remained in the empty space.
"And now..."
"Wake up."