Chapter 252 Chapter250-Collision
"Quel, put down the blade. I haven't been ensnared," Ethan said with a hint of exasperation.
"Are you sure?" Quel retorted, seeing no visible signs of Ethan being under any influence.
With a sigh, Ethan reaffirmed, "I have some knowledge about Illusion. An illusion of this caliber can't hypnotize me."
As he spoke, Ethan casually conjured a Thunder Ball, illuminating the space around him.
At the same time, Kadiven approached, positioning himself beside Ethan.
This act reinforced Ethan's claim, and Quel, somewhat convinced, couldn't help but praise, "Ethan, I always pegged you for someone proficient in thunder magic and holy light magic, but I never expected you to be this adept at deciphering illusions."
Faced with Quel's commendation, all Ethan could do was offer a modest smile.
Naturally, Ethan wasn't versed in Illusion. However, he had grasped the Soul Language of Nature.
This was the gateway to Alchemy, a craft inherently about discerning the essence of the world.
Having delved deep into the study of illusions and having encountered the illusions of Lana Mokos and Mary, Ethan's grasp on the Soul Language of Nature hadn't necessarily deepened.
However, the inherent power of the Soul Language of Nature had been unlocked, bolstering Ethan's resistance against illusions considerably.
Hence, this recent illusion had failed to take hold over him.
Yet, when it came to discussing the profound power of the Language of Nature, Ethan refrained from elaboration.
With this unexpected encounter, all three became more vigilant.
Ethan once again invoked his Holy Light Domain, illuminating their surroundings and simultaneously dispelling any lurking impurities.
Concurrently, he activated the Eye of Alchemy. Both Quel and Kadiven promptly employed their respective skills as well.
Upon engaging the Eye of Alchemy, streams of information materialized before Ethan's eyes:
[Trial House #3]
[Description: One of the Elf King's Trial Houses. Within dwells a wounded elven soldier. To pass the test, you must engage in combat and slay the soldier. ]
...
[Trial House #7]
[Description: Another of the Elf King's Trial Houses. It shelters the spirit of an original Elf King's consort. To succeed in this trial, you must offer a tribute satisfactory to the spirit of the Elf King's consort. ]
...
[Trial House #6]
[Description: Yet another of the Elf King's Trial Houses. Inside resides an Elf Alchemist. To pass the test, you must answer three questions about Alchemy. Failure to do so would require you to become a subject of an Alchemical experiment, a fate potentially fatal. Currently, two elves and a dragon are undergoing this test, but their time is swiftly dwindling. ]
...
[Trial House #2]
[Description: A deceptive Trial House. Destroy it, and you shall pass the trial. ]
"Found it!" Ethan exclaimed upon seeing the message.
"Over there!" He pointed towards a house in the upper left direction, leading Quel and Kadiven towards it.
As they neared the structure, Ethan unhesitatingly unleashed a mighty surge of the Power of Thunder, reducing the wooden hut to splinters in an instant.
"Ethan, what are you doing?" Quel demanded, a tone of incredulity edging his voice.
Without missing a beat, Ethan clarified, "I apologize for not mentioning earlier, but this was the way to pass the second Trial House, as I saw it. Furthermore, Rose and Oberlis are currently in the sixth Trial House. They are in trouble. We must quickly pass our trial and catch up to them."
Quel looked skeptical but, as time passed without any punitive consequence, he chose to believe Ethan's words.
As for Kadiven, he remained characteristically silent.
Using the Eye of Alchemy, Ethan effortlessly led the trio to the third Trial House.
Inside, they were greeted by an enthusiastic soldier, missing an arm and a leg.
With genuine warmth, he invited Ethan and his companions in, offering them delicate treats while recounting tales of the battlefield.
As the injured soldier's narrative unfolded, it became clear he once had a beautiful wife and two obedient daughters.
Now, a return to them was impossible.
"Is this truly a test to choose servants of deities, not demons?" Quel couldn't help but question, a note of disbelief in his voice.
Ethan had already shared with Quel and Kadiven the information he gleaned from the Eye of Alchemy about how to navigate this third Trial House.
Yet, after hearing the heart-wrenching story of the maimed soldier, none of them could muster the resolve to act, despite all three hailing from the Dark Lord faction.
In this world, being a Dark Lord merely meant one stood in opposition to the Hero.
It by no means signified inherent malevolence.
"This trial is indeed strange. And this place... it's so eerie, reminiscent of a tomb," Ethan remarked, echoing the sentiment.
Elves, being creatures favored by nature, have always been peace-loving beings.
But after setting foot on the Westwood Continent, this inherent belief seemed to crumble.
It wasn't just the unreasonable Elf Prince Horne in the City of Elves.
Even now, in the Elf King's Trial Grounds, Ethan felt an inexplicable, sinister aura, skilled at keeping itself hidden.
It led Ethan to wonder.
Either some demon, formidable enough to rival a deity, had set its sights on the elves, or there was something amiss with the Original Elf King.
After all, it appeared that the elves of the Westwood Continent were descendants of this very king.
But these were merely speculations.
The pressing issue at hand was whether or not to end the life of the wounded soldier before them...
All three were mired in deep hesitation.
At that moment, Ethan once again activated the Eye of Alchemy, focusing on the soldier who continued to recount tales of his past.
Through the Eye of Alchemy, details emerged:
[Name: David Cohen]
[Description: This is a body subjected to inhuman torture, later filled with an already weary soul by a malicious alchemist. End his life, free the exhausted soul, and you will reap a considerable reward.]
What was happening?
Ethan couldn't suppress his astonishment.
The soldier before him, who seemed so lifelike, was in fact a product of Alchemy—a macabre combination of a corpse and a soul, a creation that was almost monstrous...
Moreover, as the soldier spoke of his family, the emotion in his eyes was undeniably genuine.
"Damn it!"
Ethan began to piece things together.
The family the soldier spoke of likely did exist in reality.
However, in his current state, the soldier might not even realize he's long dead, instead trapped in an endless loop of past memories.
How profound must the hatred be to subject this soldier to such a fate?
"Ethan, what's going on?" Quel noticed the anger in Ethan's demeanor.
Kadiven also glanced at Ethan and then at the soldier, seeming to sense that something was amiss.
Ethan didn't offer an elaborate explanation. Instead, he said, "Ending his life would be a release for him. But it's not the best solution. Someone before us surely did just that. We should find a way to completely destroy this Trial House, allowing the soldier's soul to depart."
Even without knowing precisely what Ethan had seen, Quel didn't oppose hastily.
"It seems the house can only be destroyed from the outside," Quel commented.
After entering, he had tried to leave a mark but found it impossible from within.
Continuing, he said, "Clearly, we can't leave until we've completed the trial of this house."
It seemed like they were stuck in a vicious cycle.
"Let me think," Ethan said, deep in contemplation.
He possessed many skills, but among those related to souls, only Alchemy and the Soul Language of Nature came to mind.
Perhaps the Power of Holy Light might work, but it would require a highly advanced mastery.
As for Alchemy and the Soul Language of Nature, Ethan's understanding was only at a rudimentary level.
"So, what other options do we have?" Ethan pondered, subconsciously reaching into his Space Ring. Within, a cerulean crystal emanated a soft glow, instilling a sense of serene tranquility.
Ethan's gaze was instantly drawn to it.
"This is... the Crystal of Aquaman, another emblem of the god's trial," he murmured.
Hesitating only momentarily, he drew out the Crystal of Aquaman.
The moment it was revealed, the crystal burst forth with a dazzling radiance, as if the ire of some mighty being had been invoked.
In a realm unseen by the trio, above the village, the oppressive clouds dissipated, allowing the long-absent sun to pierce through.
Beneath this sunlight was the spectral image of a vast sea.
Within this maritime illusion, there lay a Golden Trident adorned with azure stripes.
Following this, the trident began to accumulate energy, aiming directly at the village.
Within the village, the once-vanished old man reappeared, his face painted with panic.
He pleaded towards the Golden Trident, "God of Sea, this place belongs to Lord Elf King's Trial Grounds. I beseech you to depart."
Yet, the Golden Trident offered no response.
With its power fully amassed, the Trident plunged directly towards the village.
BOOM!
A fierce explosion resonated, causing the village to quake as if hit by an earthquake.
Many houses crumbled instantly into ruins, and serpentine cracks sprawled across the ground.
The small hut where Ethan and his companions were stationed was obliterated.
The wounded soldier, who had been speaking, seemed to sense something.
He cast a grateful glance towards Ethan before his body dissipated into a black mist.
But this time, the mist did not reform into the soldier. As it touched the rays of the sun, it vanished completely.
Then, the Golden Trident also disappeared, with the sky once again cloaked in oppressive clouds.
"So, we've passed the trial of the third house?" Quel inquired.
Ethan nodded, turning his gaze to the menacing-looking old man who now stood before them.
"Indeed," he responded, "but we're in for even bigger trouble now."
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