Chapter 765 Challenges
When Avarice's body fell to the ground covered in gold coins, the thud shook the entire chamber.
Blood Lily returned the red spear to its natural sword shape, swung it for a moment and put it away in the sheath on the right side of her waist.
For his part, Maelstrom clapped his hands for the player's performance and said:
"You were even more shrewd than I imagined you could be. Your analysis of risk and reward is impressive, you hardly made any wrong decisions."
The red-haired armored warrior looked at the demon and wasted no time. "Can we really start your master's challenges now? I'm finally warmed up."
Maelstrom raised his eyebrows, slightly shocked, as Bloody Lily looked exhausted from the moment she entered the castle.
"As you wish..." He answered her.
Then Maelstrom put his hands behind him and started walking. As he took his first steps, all the treasures in the room, including the mountains of gold, statues, weapons and valuable objects began to fade, leaving a wide, empty chamber.
Bloody Lily was surprised, but let out a breath of air through her nose and smiled.
"Prepare yourself, Bloody Lily. The challenges you will now face are much more than mere material obstacles," said Maelstrom, his red eyes glowing with increasing intensity. "They are tests of endurance, cunning and, above all, self-control."
The warrior nodded, aware that the real test was now beginning. Maelstrom stopped at the end of the room, and a magic circle began to form around him, pulsing with an eerie energy. A blink of an eye later, two paths had appeared where there was just a plain wall.
"Two paths stretch out before you once again, Bloody Lily," proclaimed Maelstrom, his elegant gestures amplifying the tense atmosphere. "The path of Pain or the path of Illusion. Choose wisely which you will face first."
Blood Lily analyzed the options, her eyes fixed on the magic circle. After a few seconds of analysis, she opted for the path of Pain, because she was still warmed up from the fight against Avarice.
Immediately, the room shook, and a portal opened on the path to Bloody Lily's right.?When she stepped through this portal, she found herself immersed in a dark mist and screams echoed from all sides. As soon as the mist partially dissipated, she found herself on a desolate battlefield, where the shadows of several monsters she had already killed emerged to challenge her.
The fight was fierce and intense. Each blow struck against the shadows echoed with the weight of all the battles she had faced. Despite this, Bloody Lily's movements were precise, the red sword cutting through the illusions with a lethal dance. Sweat dripped down Blood Lily's face, but her determination remained unwavering.
Meanwhile, Maelstrom watched with an enigmatic smile. He was satisfied, but more trials were to come, nine more to be exact.
When the last shadow disappeared, the battlefield shook again, indicating the end of the first challenge. Bloody Lily, although tired, remained standing, ready for the next challenge.
"You have overcome Pain, warrior. Now prepare to face Illusion," announced Maelstrom, his voice echoing through the chamber.
Another portal opened, this time revealing a surreal and distorted landscape. Twisted trees and ghostly creatures filled the landscape, challenging Bloody Lily's sense of reality. Taking a deep breath, she advanced through the portal cautiously, aware that this time the real battle was not testing her blade, but her mind.
Tempting illusions sprang up around him, distorting reality and testing his ability to discern what was true. During the Illusion challenge, Bloody Lily was confronted with visions of friends and personal challenges she had faced in Rise Online, such as the formation of her guild, heated arguments and the players she had already killed. Her mental strength was tested to the limit, but she stood firm. Every illusion shattered was a victory over her own past and her own doubts.
When the last illusory glimmer dissipated, the room shook again, indicating the end of the second challenge. Bloody Lily, more mentally exhausted than ever and very sweaty, looked at Maelstrom with determined eyes.
"You've done admirably well. There are eight challenges left, from now on each one will be more complex than the last. Do you think you're ready?" asked Maelstrom, his tone revealing a mixture of respect and anticipation.
"Of course I am." She smiled and rested her sword on one shoulder.
The challenges that followed tested not only Blood Lily's combat skills, but also her empathy, her courage, her leadership skills, her ruthlessness and many other aspects. In one challenge, she found herself leading an army against countless enemies; in another, she faced a dark version of herself, forcing her to confront her deepest fears.
The journey was arduous, but the warrior persisted, overcoming each challenge with tenacity. Along the way, Maelstrom stopped congratulating him and just watched silently, occasionally expressing approval with a nod.
Finally, after facing nine challenges, the chamber returned to its previous state, with red bricks and a slight aura of expectation.
Bloody Lily looked completely different from before. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her armor was literally in pieces, with many parts of the black robe she wore underneath showing. Despite this, she didn't have any wounds or scratches marking her skin, because she could heal herself using her class skills.
Maelstrom stepped out of the shadows one last time and approached her. "How are you, warrior?" He asked.
She looked down at her clothes and replied:
"Better than impossible. How long has it been since the first challenge?"
"Just an hour. If you disregard all the psychological and physical aspects, they're quick challenges. Do you think you're ready for the last challenge?"
"Ready or not, there's no going back. If going through this will save all the humans of Mibothen, I have no options."
The demon butler smiled, took a step back and pointed with his right hand to the large door that had appeared behind him, as if to introduce it. "That being the case, the final challenge stands before you."
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