The Second Test

Chapter Seven: The Second Test

Lying on the ground, the child felt the fear of death looming over him with every breath. The slightest wrong move could bring him closer to his demise. It was a level of agony that not everyone experiences in their lifetime.

"I began to understand the feelings of some of my patients at that time," the child sighed softly, reminiscing about the patients who had been in similar conditions in the past.

With nothing else to do but stretch, the child decided to contemplate the things he had ignored earlier.

The nature of this test was peculiar. Initially, the challenge was hunger, but the tester was not satisfied with that. They introduced spoiled food into the room, increasing the psychological torment. It was as if they were teasing the participants, offering them food they couldn't consume. The only solution was to eat the spoiled food. By doing so, the participants were being tested on their will to live. If they were cowards, they wouldn't dare to eat the spoiled food.

But the true challenge of the first test wasn't just about eating the spoiled food. It began after consuming it. Continuous nausea, persistent stomach cramps, and absolute darkness accompanied the participants. Initially, the child thought his inability to see the memories of the body's original owner was due to their previous injury. However, he now believed it was part of the test as well. The accumulation of negative thoughts reached dangerous levels, and thus the first test came to an end, marking the beginning of the second test.

The spoiled food transformed back into normal food, and the quantity doubled. It was a clear message that this was a transitional stage. Then, snakes started to appear. This stage differed from the previous one. Here, the testing and reward system came into play, and every step was accompanied by judgments on life. The first snake's poison was the most challenging to bear and triggered the accumulated negative thoughts within a person. It made them feel as if they were drowning or forced them to stay awake, among other things. But if one persevered, they would receive a handsome reward, whether it was adapting their eyes to darkness or a slight improvement in their physical capabilities.

As the number of snakes increased, the message became clear: "Are you going to settle for your initial success or continue to challenge your limits?" Although the child modified this part to extract the maximum benefit, he knew not all participants had the same opportunities. Now, he found himself facing a new type of poison, and if the system remained the same, there would be a reward for withstanding it.

After approximately half a day, the symptoms of the snake bite started to subside. However, the child remained motionless for a while longer, taking precautions.

After three hours, the child stood up and felt the stiffness in his body from the continuous stretching. But as it disappeared, he experienced a marvelous sensation coursing through his body. It felt as though his blood was flowing at an incredible speed, all without an increase in his heart rate.

"This... This is completely unscientific, yet wonderful," the child marveled. While this reward seemed simpler than the previous one, it was actually far superior. Any practitioner of martial arts knew that an increase in blood circulation speed meant more nutrients reaching the organs, resulting in heightened talent. But how was this possible?

The child sat, attempting to explain the phenomenon occurring within his body. He formulated several theories, but the most plausible one was that his heart muscle had been strengthened in its normal position. In doing so, the pressure on the arteries and veins would have increased, potentially leading to their rupture. However, the poison he had endured strengthened not only his heart muscle but also the walls of his blood vessels, resulting in this extraordinary condition.

The events that followed over the next three weeks were similar to before. Three snakes appeared, then nine, and eventually 27. Dealing with these snakes proved more challenging than the previous ones, but the child had learned from his initial mistakes. The fierce battle that took place on the first day was due to his negligence and lack of knowledge about the characteristics of the new viper.

By the time 81 snakes appeared, the child had gained absolute immunity. The process was faster this time, as there were similarities between the effects of the poisons. His immune system had built a memory to rely on, unlike the previous time when it was like a blank piece of paper.

It became evident that immunity was not his only gain from these toxins. In fact, his benefits far surpassed those from the previous test.