Greed and Self

Alastor countered the grasping arm by severing it, but two more took it's place.

The being recoiled as the invisible blades hidden in the grass pierced the hands that it was using to move, and Alastor used that to his advantage as he used the two halves of the spear to stab into Greed.

The Sin did not seem to care, as it simply sent out more and more grasping hands towards Alastor.

Alastor dodged the majority, but one hand managed to lightly brush against the skin of his arm, and stuck tightly to it, seemingly merging into his arm.

The Rune on the black tree glowed as Alastor used to Rune of Change to remove the skin off his hand and regenerated it with demonic essence.

'How annoying.'

'There's no attack big enough to take it out at once yet, and one touch can have it stuck to me on an existential level, leading me to sacrifice more and more.'

Alastor leapt back and forth from the tree, harrying the monstrosity with fast attacks that destroyed more and more arms. 

Suddenly, the monster waited until Alastor was close enough, and opened up like an onion, leading Alastor's strike much deeper than originally intended. The arms within it grabbed the spear head, and tried to reach for Alastor as well.

He quickly used the broken shear shaft to pin the arms reaching for him, to each other, and jumped onto the grass, ignoring the pain from the invisible blades in the grass.

The Greed devoured the spear, and Alastor could feel that the arms now belonged to a Spear Adept's.

It used it's appendages much more skillfully, skills that belonged to him, as it became dangerous enough to make Alastor retreat to the black tree.

Alastor sighed, and looked to the tree, 'I see. So this must be what I have to use.'

The Sin kept growing in size, as Alastor grabbed the tree by the trunk. The Rune on the tree glowed, as the roots with a demonic glow erupted from the ground and speared through the monstrous incarnation.

'My bodies and soul.'

The mouth hanging on the tree spewed endless vile curses that manifested as black chains, holding Greed down.

'My approach to the world.'

The brain opened it's maw and devoured the spear mastery back, the old and rusted spear returning to Alastor's hand from within Greed.

'My mind and perception.'

As Greed struggled and swayed under the chains, pierced upon the tree roots, it bulged and bloated endlessly, growing bigger and bigger as it reached for Alastor.

'My Greed.'

'And finally-'

A large stone monolith slammed down upon Greed, crushing it completely.

'-my determination and will.'

The Greed manifestation dissolved and entered the back tree.

Alastor felt the change within the soulscape, as countless eyes gazed upon him in judgement.

He looked at the fighters who had failed their own rituals, the ones who were glaring at him, and said, "You failed because you were incompetent in the past. Don't try getting in the way of those who who succeeded, losers."

They glared at him with hatred, but parted reluctantly, making a way for Alastor to return to the material realm.

Alastor looked back at his soul.

'My demonic part is just barely hidden this way.'

Alastor had hidden the pearl representing his demonic origin inside the tree, and would return it to his Astral Form as soon as he left.

'It was quite active. I've delayed my evolution for quite a while now. Perhaps even enough to take the Viscount trial directly after becoming a Baron.'

However, Alastor knew he had to hold back, at least until the demonic realm's dungeon attack plan was started.

'When the dungeons open, I can evolve within them safely without being found out.'

'But for now, I need to survive this next ordeal.'

Alastor awoke with his body on fire.

Literally.

................................................................................

The fire wasn't burning his skin, simply tormenting him. Alastor immediately turned and dived into the river formed from the waterfall, and felt a slight relief, but not enough to help.

He looked at the sheer size and power of the waterfall, before swimming under it. The waterfall's power slammed him all the way to the riverbed.

He grit his teeth and crawled towards the wall of the cavern, and began climbing.

It was wet, slippery, and difficult to breathe as the waterfall kept beating on his head and back, doing it's best to push him down and drown him.

However,

'The flames are subsiding.'

Alastor kept moving upwards, without using energy, as he ignored his bodies desperate cries to stop.

Pain? Pain did not matter. 

If it was just pain, then Alastor would never give up to such a laughable thing.

He kept climbing, focusing more on how to keep his grip on the wall, than the pain.

The flames within him were being soothed the higher he climbed.

Time lost it's meaning, as Alastor focused solely on climbing.

After an unkown amount of time, Alastor reached the top of the waterfall, seeing a hollow right besides the opening for the waterfall to emerge.

He collapsed into the small cave, resting a bit as he noticed the changes within him.

He could feel his soul burgeoning, growing, and he knew he could soon bring it into reality.

He did not do so yet, opting to train a dangerous power in a safer place.

He turned to see a staircase carved into the back of the cave, leading down.

He descended from the stairs, finally arriving at the bottom and went through a door.

He saw his spear and shirt had been collected from where he had left them, and delivered inside.

He dried the pants he was wearing before getting clothed and leaving the door.

Alastor saw that the Elder's and the Chief were standing outside, waiting for his arrival.

As they saw him exit, they began clapping wildly.

The Chief declared, "For the new warrior, we must have another feast!"

The first thing he had to ask however, was the date. 'Fortune, do not leave me.'

The Chief informed him of the date, a bit puzzled. 

'Fortune has left me.'

Alastor had two days remaining to return to the school for midterms.

'At least A is late as well.' Alastor thought in relief as he told A about the midterms.

A had completely forgotten those existed, and was settling down to enjoy the feast before it even began.

They both quickly declined the offer to join the feast and rushed out with just some rations in their mouths.The way out was the same as the way in, except the wind path now led upwards.

During this rush to leave, Alastor caught a glimpse of the being A's tribe worshipped, as they passed by a temple.

'A stone monkey?'