Can Be Knocked Down, But Never Defeated
Ruth's voice was low and serious as he asked, "How did you come to possess the heart of an undead warrior?"
I recounted the events that transpired on Skull Island to Horus, whose expression grew increasingly grave, sending an icy chill through my entire being.
"Among the Seven Kings of Skull Island, there is no such person as Mostima, nor does any king resemble the man you described."
"Then who is he? He claimed to be your old friend and even gifted me a ghost ship."
Horus's countenance darkened further as he slowly shook his head. "I do not know him, nor do I have such an old friend. This matter has surpassed my control; you must not set foot on Skull Island again."
Since you possess the heart of a warrior, I shall bestow upon you the title of Demon Island Warrior. However, I have never heard of a living person comprehending the heart of an undead warrior, so I advise you to use this power sparingly."
"Had you not mentioned it, I would not have dared to misuse it; I can feel the hairs on my neck standing on end." After a moment of silence, Horus gestured for me to approach him.
Thus begins the trial for the title of Demon Island Warrior. In truth, you have already completed the majority of the requirements; only the final step remains.
Under Horus's guidance, I focused all my energy into my body as his voice resonated within my soul: "The heart of a warrior is an eternal flame, intertwined with life until the end of the soul's journey. To possess this burning spirit of combat is to be a true warrior. Open your mind completely, embrace this flame, and bind it within your heart. Allow your spirit to merge entirely with this fire of war, and imprint your deepest emotions upon it. This is the ultimate trial for the title of Demon Island Warrior."
The nascent heart of a warrior is a pure flame, devoid of any markings. Only when you imprint it does it truly and completely belong to you.
This imprint will determine your future path—whether you shall be one who never surrenders, fights for truth, or provokes yourself…
It is of utmost importance, for it will serve as your reason for battle, your purpose, and your direction. You must contemplate this deeply.
On Skull Island, I had already learned to manipulate the heart of the undead warrior. Horus's words unlocked the final barrier to this door. My mental fortitude was sufficiently strong, allowing me to wield the heart with ease. As for leaving my unique imprint upon it, that was a trivial matter. I carefully drew the azure flame into my consciousness, having long since decided what kind of emotion to infuse it with.
I do not relish combat, but if I must have a reason to fight, it is singular… As I infused this emotion into the heart of the undead warrior, the azure flame ceased to feel as if it might extinguish at any moment. I could fully comprehend the laws that constituted it; it belonged to me, a unique fire of war bestowed upon me by the heavens, empowering me to never yield.
In the face of any adversity, I would strive tirelessly, driven by an indomitable will to challenge the future and push my limits.
With an unwavering belief, that deep azure flame, burning alongside my life, fused seamlessly with my spirit, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
In that moment, I understood what it meant to be a warrior: one may be knocked down, but never defeated.
Having passed the trial for the title of Demon Island Warrior, I did not leave immediately. Though I had mastered the heart of a warrior, I felt more vulnerable than ever.
After several days, I finally restored my lost true energy and platinum glory to their peak. With the title of Demon Island Warrior now accepted, I planned to return to France to seek a way back to Demon Island.
This endeavor had cost me Pan Lier; no other gain could compensate for this loss. Crossing the vast ocean and traversing that mysterious continent may prove arduous, perhaps even beyond my capabilities, but I shall not concede without first attempting and giving my all.
Axeman was eager to accompany me to France, but he seemed to have pressing matters to attend to. After deliberating for several days, he ultimately decided to return home first.
We parted ways in Toronto, Canada, embarking on our separate journeys. Circling back to the starting point left me contemplative about the whims of fate. The Demon-Banishing Mercenary Corps in France remained unchanged since my last visit, but this time I did not encounter the fierce Lady Gu Yali. Instead, another beautiful officer escorted me to the magic teleportation array.
"I heard there are no female trainees in this year's training camp. Initially, there was talk of a girl named Yan Tianhong who seemed quite impressive, but unfortunately, she declined to join us. Why did you choose to join the Demon-Banishing Mercenary Corps?"
Yan Tianhong! The icy beauty who always carried a large blade? I had almost forgotten her; life had been so challenging lately that I scarcely had time to think.
As I pondered my thoughts, I replied to the beautiful officer, "It was introduced to me by Fang Lingxue. I know nothing about Demon Island, so how could I possibly choose?"
"Oh! Is that the reason? Then I hope you can become one of us. If you pass the training camp's assessment, I could take you out on a date!"
This beautiful officer was a true French girl—warm, open, and vivacious. I believed that as long as she was well-spoken, carried herself gracefully, and possessed a touch of charm along with some financial stability, she would be willing to date any man. This is not a prejudice but rather a common perception among many Chinese regarding French women.
Of course, dating is easy, but winning a heart is no simple feat. However, none of this held much significance for me; I was not here to pursue romance.
Even if I were to pass the assessment of the Demon-Banishing Mercenary Corps, I had no intention of dating this officer. Throughout the journey, I remained relatively silent, responding only when questioned. Yet, the French officer's enthusiasm was as legendary as I had heard. After escorting me into the teleportation magic array, she boldly bestowed a kiss upon me, laughing as she exclaimed, "Handsome guy, I'll be waiting for you to return for our date!" I barely had time to wipe the lipstick from my face before the teleportation magic array activated.
The silver symbols on my hands glowed brilliantly. My research into the teleportation magic array had taught me that this power could shield me from unnecessary torment.
With a resounding thud, I steadied myself as the bald instructor, Virel, appeared before me. I greeted him with a faint smile, "Hi, Instructor, I'm back."