447 Passing the test one after another
“I can’t breathe...” Gregory gripped his chest tightly and as he was about to fall.
Fein timely supported Gregory, who had already lost his consciousness... Fein slowly placed Gregory on the ground and started to talk to Michael, who was in the same room.
Fein watched the next scene, as another ‘Fein’ performed a thorough physical examination of Gregory. Internal and external. He was now in the role of spectator as he watched one of the memories that he had tried to bury in his heart. One that always appeared in his what ifs... It was the time that Gregory first suffered a heart attack, but he couldn’t find a problem.
‘So this is my biggest trauma? Fair enough. If I knew a thing or two about curses at that time. Captain might still be breathing and standing with us.’ Fein didn’t show the emotion of sadness on his face. Only a regret, but he didn’t have signs of losing control.
He just watched the scene and stared at Gregory with sentimentality.
If it was a year before, he would have surely broke down or teared up. But now, he had fully accepted it.
Just like before, the entire place shattered little by little and white mist slowly emerged from the place again. Then Fein heard Zero’s timely voice.
“Congratulations on passing the second test.”
“It’s nothing. It’s all basic operations.” Fein shrugged.
.....
Zero, who had been watching Fein all this time, had a look of amazement. The past people who took his ‘Test of will’ failed to even get past the first test. And all of them broke down like traumatized little girls.
After all, the test of will wasn’t simple. It synchronized with the psyche of the participants and reflects their deepest fear and trauma. The memories that they had subconsciously buried in the depths of their mind.
So without exception, anyone who could pass the test has a firm will!
‘He might really have a chance to defeat Niki...’ The way Zero looked at Fein changed suddenly.
Niki was the biggest shadow of Zero’s life. Up until now, his biggest goal was to defeat Niki. He strived to become stronger and trained his body, his skills, and his abilities to their full potential.
Yet, even after he broke the S rank, the power ceiling or limit of the realm that others have thought. He still couldn’t imagine how he would defeat Niki, who had also gotten stronger after the last time they fought. Zero couldn’t really call it a ‘fight’ but instead... A one-sided beating. Niki tried not only to harm him physically, but also his destroy will.
A wide smile emerged behind Zero’s mask. ‘Let’s proceed to the third test.’
In reality, once someone passes the first test and the second test, they are automatically considered as someone with a strong will. A qualified individual that can face Niki. Of course, that is, if the said individual had the strength to back him.
Zero could see Fein’s potential. Although Fein was just an S rank now. The thing is, he was still twenty-three years old. Moreover, Fein broke all the records Niki had set which reflects his talent.
With that, Zero activated his ability and commenced the third test.
Fein suddenly felt his vision blackout for three seconds, only to come back again.
He looked at his surrounding. And once again felt amazed by Zero’s ability. The illusion was almost close to reality. If he didn’t know it in advance, he won’t even think of the possibility that he was inside an illusion.
Now, he was in the middle of the field with cobblestones around. The dark sky appeared lonely.
Fein could see red X-shaped marks written on the black soil in front of him. They were two meters away from each other and there are a sixteen total of them. Lastly, six torches were fixed from erected wooden sticks that illuminate the surrounding area. It provides a sense of solace in the middle of the dark night...
The sound of the owls, the rustle of the wind on the skin, and the warmth of the torch. Fein almost feel that he was in reality. He couldn’t only see... But also hear and feel!
What does this mean? The illusions could affect his five senses! If someone stabbed him. Although he won’t be wounded in reality, he would feel the pain exactly as how it would feel.
‘Such a dangerous ability. No wonder it was graded mythic.’ Fein couldn’t help but shudder.
This ability was too dangerous. An illusion that could affect the five senses. After all, what distinguishes reality and illusion are their vividness and how the senses respond to them.
Normal illusion could only affect sight but not other senses such as touch and hearing.
If an illusion could affect the five senses, what would be the difference between reality and illusion?
Meaning... Zero could stab him now multiple times and he won’t even feel and see it!
Unconsciously, Fein raised Zero’s danger level in his heart by a hundred points. After all, he doesn’t have something now that would help him against Zero’s realistic illusion.
DING!
System: Do you want me to inform you when you are put in illusions like this? Yes/No?
‘Absolutely!’
Fein wasn’t a fool to refuse such a good thing. ‘System, can you break the illusion for me if I want to?’
System: Yes... The illusion affects the psyche of the user. The system can help you shield your psych against foreign or external forces such as mind manipulation or illusions.
‘Such a good thing!?’ Fein took a deep breath. ‘But why did you only tell it to me now?’
System: I only activate what the host tells me. Worry not the host... In case of emergency, if there’s a circumstance that you’ve been controlled or someone put you in an illusion that has ill intentions. The system would automatically activate this function... I didn’t sense an ill intent with the person that had put you into it. That’s why I didn’t activate the function.’
‘Oh, is that so? Good guy! You are the best!’ Fein was mind blown.
Who would have thought that there’s such a free function in the system?
Now, he won’t have to worry about his mind being invaded or being at a disadvantage with illusion users.
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