Chapter 1411 Recruitment [8]
Hershel finished the trial of body after experiencing death for the first time.
But his reaction wasn't what one expected.
He was on the floor, holding his head and rocking back and forth. He had the qualities of someone who was going to go insane, but his mind was actually torn.
On one hand, the feeling of death terrified him. It made him feel cold and empty. It was a void that he absolutely wanted to avoid, however, it was also strangely comforting.
That scared him even more. Why would he feel such a thing from death? As if it was family, as if it was something for him to love.
He didn't know what to think of himself, and every time he thought back to the feeling of that goblin's knife digging into his body, he got phantom pains that reminded him of the experience.
However, he was also somewhat calm.
His own actions in that moment were immensely surprising as well.
He didn't think he was capable of something like that, but when he was put in a situation where his life was in danger, his fear and anxiety completely disappeared.
The only thing that remained was his desire to kill. He didn't care if he died. He only wanted to kill his enemy.
Was he someone like that?
Was he born for war?
But if that was the case, why would the heavens birth him with such a weak body?
He didn't know how to explain it, but he felt more comfortable in his skin when he was entangled in a life-threatening battle than he ever had before.
Hershel spent his ten minutes of free time introspecting. He wanted to understand himself better, but he simply didn't have the ability to do so.
He hadn't seen enough of the world to put himself in any specific category. He only knew he wasn't part of the same group the rest of his family was in.
Though, the fact that he'd gone through two trials and still existed in the trial space gave him some confidence. He didn't expect to pass twice, he didn't even expect to pass once, but since he'd done it, wasn't it better to do it all the way?
Of course, the doubt that he didn't pass at all and the trial was just continuing for the sake of continuing definitely appeared in his mind, but he ignored it.
He'd always been pessimistic. He'd never allowed himself to think he had talent or potential in any aspect.
However, in this situation, he didn't want to think that way. He wanted to do his absolute best, and that feeling only got more prominent with the passing of time.
Hershel entered the trial of mind with far more confidence than he showed when the recruitment test began.
And the trial of mind was one that required confidence.
The trial of soul tested character.
The trial of body tested instinct.
And the trial of mind tested will.
The will to persevere, the will to survive, even in the direst of circumstances.
It was a two-part trial. In the first, the participant would be placed in a simulated version of the First Dungeon for several weeks.
Afterward, they'd be influenced to escape on a path that opened up to them and they'd be saved by a mysterious force.
However, that force wasn't a savior at all. The participants who just tasted freedom again would be tortured for information about things they held dear.
If they lost the determination to survive and allowed themselves to die in the first half, they'd fail. If they gave up any information in the second half, they would fail.
Just like the other trials, there were several nuances that allowed Damien to judge the participants for more than just their surface-level qualities.
Hershel was a person who gave up several times in the First Dungeon, just as Damien had.
However, just like Damien, he had a propensity towards madness. He allowed that madness to drive him, and eventually, he gained the will to survive.
He survived for one week, he survived for two, and eventually, he started proactively challenging the dungeon instead of hiding around.
That was about the time when he was saved and tortured.
His response was driven by what he'd experienced thus far.
Pain, fear, and anxiety became nothing more than enemies for him to kill.
Rather than feeling those things when he was tortured, his anger grew.
Rage towards those who didn't want him to progress, hatred for those who inhibited his growth. Those feelings usurped all others and left him as a true berserker.
No matter what kind of questioning he was given, no matter how he was tortured, he persevered.
It was to the point where Damien became interested.
He gave Hershel a chance.
He altered the trial, giving Hershel the ability to escape his entrapment. He wanted to see what the boy would do with his newfound freedom.
And the answer was more than just satisfying.
Hershel immediately lashed out at his kidnappers. He killed and killed until the entire organization was gone, leaving only him.
And when he was done, he returned to the dungeon.
'The will to grow stronger…'
It was something not many had to this level.
Damien could tell.
This boy would do anything if it meant he could be strong and useful, but he had a moral compass that kept him away from self-destructive greed.
The boy's body was weak, but his mind was strong. As long as Damien gave him the opportunity…
'...he'll grow into a monster.'
Damien grinned.
This was a true diamond in the rough.
Hershel had no redeeming qualities to others. Because of his lack of talent, the mental aspect in which he excelled meant nothing.
But talent was something Damien could provide, so Hershel's base traits didn't mean anything.
'This is what I was looking for.'
Rather than someone who could obviously grow, Damien wanted people who would grow even if the heavens disallowed them.
'It's not just him. Void Palace has a great atmosphere. Multiple people with that kind of mentality have been born here.'
Billions appeared for recruitment, but the ones Damien paid attention to numbered no more than 10,000.
Each of them had the talent to become an elite.
They were the ones he wanted in his army.
'It's a good number. When we started, I didn't expect more than a thousand of them to be worth fostering, so I'm more than happy with this result.'
Damien smiled.
He was using clones to watch each and every trial simultaneously, but his main body was having more fun than all of them combined.
'I've tested all the geniuses from the Grand Duke Clans. They aren't bad, but they aren't quite up to standard yet. On the bright side, the fun part is only just beginning.'
Damien's main body had finally arrived in front of the first of his siblings.
Dominic Void. He'd finished his trials and spent a few hours regaining his strength. Since he seemed more than ready…
'...I'm going to beat the shit out of him.'
That was a bit harsh.
Damien was going to test Dominic to see what level he'd reached.
'No, I'm going to beat the shit out of him.'
Harsh was the right word, but that didn't change anything.
Damien was really going to beat the shit out of him.
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