(8)

"Why are there so many crystals?!", I mumbled while staring at countless crystals glowing black and white. Made me feel like I was floating in between a cluster of twinkling stars.

[Kriassilis dodged my question when I asked him.

BUT TO THINK 'THE CRYSTAL OF DEATH' EXISTS, QUITE THE SHOCKER.]

"No, to think the crystals of death exist?!", I mumbled.

…

A minute had passed in the hall. Xona and Saki kept staring at me whose eyes remained shut while sitting firm. Slowly, my eyes opened. The women drew their faces near mine. I said, "Settle down instead of getting too close!"

Kendor attempted, "Master, I felt your consciousness fading away for a moment. What happened?!"

{A while ago}

Amid staring upon the space of death crystals, I gazed upwards. A faint ray of white light seemed to glow the brightest in that entire space. I began flying in its direction. The crystals kept crossing my way one after another. Soon, I neared the source of the brightness, gasping in pure rage, ""WHAT THE HELL?!""

In front of me were hundreds of people belonging to different races like demons, elves, dwarves, dragons, wyverns, beast people, giant snakes, orcs and whatnot. They were floating in circles around the source of light I followed. After levitating past the debris, I saw the light brimming in the shape of a huge figure with large muscles. Although its shape emanated light, it had two eyes giving off a thin fume of darkening flames. I realized, ""YESHOD, I'VE FINALLY FOUND YOU!!""

{Back to the scene}

I dodged Kendor's attempt, "Let's talk about that some other time!"

She nodded, "Okay!!"

I got up, "Xona and Saki, come follow me!"

The two women flinched. I walked out of the house. Xona quivered, "I've got a bad feeling about this!"

Saki exclaimed, "I don't feel a thing, though!"

Xona commented, "... You know what? Forget it!!"

---step---step---

Both of them stepped out of the house. In the front yard were Grane and Sim doing handstand push-ups without taking any support. They were counting together, "1,947… 1,948… 1,949… 1,950…!!!", while the Kuraks beside them screamed, "Kuraak… Kuraak… Kuraak… Kuraak…!!!!"

Saki asked speechlessly, "What is going on?!"

Xona elaborated, "They were instructed to do 10,000 push-ups with their bodies upside down. If they collapse, the Kuraks are free to eat them!!"

Saki jolted, "10,000? Is that even possible??!!"

Xona countered, "We accomplished 900 trials. Our statistics aren't for naught!!"

I commanded, "Stop chatting and come here!!", standing on the edge of the tree branch. Saki exited the front yard, henceforth looking downwards, "Oh my god, how can a tree be this huge??!!!"

Xona exclaimed, "Get used to it. You'll see a lot of scary places in the upper earths!"

After reaching me, I made a fingersnap,

---snap---

due to which Xona's maiden costume turned back to her cowgirl attire. On the other side, Saki had a new attire with a black bodysuit covered by a sleeveless red coat stretching until her knees.

I gave a command, "Jump off this tree from your spots!!"

Xona jumped off whereas Saki flinched, "Sister Xona, wait!!"

---crash---

Her fall crushed the small trees on which she landed. She remained unscathed. Saki remembered Xona's words, "Yeah, their statistics after completing 900 trials!!"

I said, "What are you doing? I ordered you to jump!!"

By gritting her teeth, she jumped off the edge, closing her eyes in fear. However, as she reached the ground, she twisted her body and,

---whump---

Made a flashy landing, breaking the trees in that spot. She then exhaled in relief, "Thank goodness, I'm safe!"

Kendor emphasized, "Master, now that you've hacked their system tabs, I am also able to see what happened!"

I asked, "Is that so? Tell me, I am also curious as to how much of a companionship we have reached!!"

She explained, "Before that Xona-woman jumped, her autopad displayed a text saying, 'Commencing Flexible Immunity'. But that Saki-girl is different. She got a notification during her fall which said, 'Achieved High Dive', therefore making a successful landing!!"

I agreed, "Correct!", amid patting her back. My eyes were able to point out their panels.

Xona's pad displayed her ability. So did Saki's.

| Flexible Immunity

A person's figure whose flexibility is at its peak is sure to dodge most of the dire situations they face.

Effects - The host gains total immunity against enemy attacks but remains vulnerable to sharp objects. |

__________

| High Dive

One's fall could never be their end.

Effects - Increases strength and mentality when falling from certain heights. |

__________

But Saki's panel made me and my mount spellbound. Kendor commented, "Her ability's description indirectly says it all. She thought she was gonna die falling from a tree!"

"Yeah, I survived!!" Saki jumped in excitement. Xona jumped alongside her.

I responded, "She gained a useless ability but one thing's clear. People gain their character abilities depending on a situation and their thoughts!"

Kendor became puzzled, "Wait, didn't that bartender from the other day say Artificiary panels do not change unless a judge is involved?!"

I interpreted, "You're right. The pillar trials are overseen by Lower Judges, the fiery mists are overseen by Intermediary Judges while an entire earth is overseen by one High-Off Judge!"

She realized, "So the one who gave Saki the new ability is a High-Off Judge? Wait, doesn't that mean they can overhear us?!!"

I corrected her, "No, this whole dimension screams with unseen system particles which assess situations and send a notification to the judge. The judge just views the scene and sends a response in return!"

She commented, "So the pad that Saki received was a response from the High-Off Judge overseeing this earth?!"

I said, "Precisely!!"

Saki yelled, "Mr Drake, I jumped as you said. What should I do next?!!!"

I instructed, "Climb back to the top of this tree branch!!!"

"...!", she stayed stuck like a statue. I called out, "Xona, you do the volunteering. If I find her slacking off, I'll have the Kuraks strip you naked and run around this periphery, got it?!"

Xona jumped in fear, "I'll do as you say, sir!!!", and turned towards Saki, "Little sister, my feminine honour is at stake here. Start climbing the tree or I'll have to tear you naked before me!!"

"Gasp!", Saki quivered in tears. I commanded, ""Start climbing!!""

"!!!!", with a jolt of shock, she started climbing to the bottom of the tree. I exclaimed, "Let's go do our trials, Kendor!"

My celestial mount responded with a firm nod.

---dash---

At once, I took off the tree and began flying towards the trial pillar. Saki commented, "I wonder how long it'd take for me to reach Mr Drake's level!!"

Xona warned her, "I'll tear your clothes if you stop!!!"

…

---fwoosh---

I was back in the pillar, doing trials. The place that I was standing on got lit up in darkened violet flames. The flames ravaged the vicinity. Flying on top of such a chaotic mess was Kendor who split herself into a dozen kendors, each of them being five metres long.

The crook who was doing the Lower Judge duty gaped his mouth amid looking at my trial through a tiny portal full of white square particles.

He mumbled, "He completed Normante's session within two hours but mine within half an hour. His familiar seems more powerful than him. Just what is he?!"

His frog-like head quivered in utter disbelief. With his four arms resembling that of a crab and lower half of a scorpion, he typed the system panels projecting in front of him. I got an update.

---beep---

| Accomplished Trial: 000.020 |

__________

---beep---

| Achievements:

Your statistics have raised -

Strength(+15)

Speed(+5)

IQ(+5)

Mentality(+10)

Adaptability(+15) |

__________

---beep---

| Special Note: You have accomplished a hardest trial and were the first person to move on to the next trial from all the reincarnations who came with you. As an additional achievement, you will be given character abilities. |

__________

---beep---

| Additional Achievement:

All combat traits excluding Sense of Martiality have merged into one.

Character Ability - Martial Monarchy |

__________

I mumbled, "Martial Monarchy, eh? I gotta give a 100/100 to those irregular for their naming sense. The moment my abilities cross over 15, they either exterminate a trait or merge all useless traits into one!", and checked my Artificiary pad, "Auto-status!"

---beep---

| Artificial Sanctuary's Autopad

Artificiary Status:

Name - Drake Adrian

Age - 0

Species - Human

Soul - Dark

History - Newly Arrived, Accomplished 20 trials within two days.

Former Status:

Name - Drake Adrian

Age - 2089

Species - Human

Soul - Infinito

History - Born in a low-class family. Rose to the level of a deity. Ruled five worlds for two millennia. Died fighting against ten thousand ligons and wygers.

<Further Info> |

__________

---click---

| Artificiary Progress: 000.020

Statistics:

Strength - 238

Speed - 251

IQ - 287

Mentality - 391

Adaptability - 260

Character Abilities: 5

Martial Arts - Sense of Martiality

Combat Monarchy

Breaking Bad

Weaponry Godhood

Death Summons |

__________

I then checked my Character Abilities.

---click---

| Martial Arts - Sense of Martiality

A unique fighting trait created by Host Drake Adrian through hard-earned efforts. Exclusive to the host. Impossible to be mastered by common mortals.

Effects - Under usage, it's hard to be analyzed by all foes, impossible for opponents to counterfeit and maintains a firm mentality of the host on every occasion. |

__________

| Combat Monarchy

One's combat prowess turns unbreakable if it becomes incomprehensive.

Effects - Anything held by the host become a dangerous weapon, including the host himself. |

__________

| Breaking Bad

Boundless Courage, Ultimate Physique and Internal Energy unified as one.

Effects - The host gains endless courage, physique becomes invulnerable to those weaker than him and gives maximum control over internal energy. |

__________

| Weaponry Godhood

Even useless pebbles have the tendency to turn into a knife. Water is no exception.

Effects - All things held by the host can be forged into a martial arts weapon within split-seconds and uses excess Internal Energy for crafting tools. |

__________

| Deadly Summons

No being's loyalty could match that of a faithful familiar.

Effects - The host gains the ability to rain all places under darkening flames through his loyal pet. |

__________

The main Kendor got back on my shoulder. I chuckled, "Haha, Deadly Summons?!"

My mount blushed, "Their way of describing it is quite impressive, though!!"

[Is she feeling shy after looking at the system tab saying no one could be as loyal to me as her? That's so funny.]