Trial.
A sort of test that Transcendents or the Maze itself occasionally bestows upon mortals. If a mortal passes this trial, the Transcendent or the Maze must grant a reward befitting the challenge—a reward that surpasses mortal imagination since the cost of failure is their very life. After all, it’s powered by the might of a Transcendent.
But…
“Trial? A trial here? We’re only on the 5th level.”
Trials usually don’t occur within the upper zones, specifically the first 20 levels. The gods didn’t want young adventurers growing up to die en masse because of these trials, so they pushed the Transcendents capable of issuing trials down into the mid-to-lower zones of the Maze and restricted their ability to escape. Besides, even the trials naturally issued by the Maze are rarely seen in the upper levels, let alone the top 10 levels.
So why a trial now?
Still, the glowing blue window before them was undeniable proof that a trial had been set. In other words, the Orc before them really did have a Demon possessing it.
“What the heck…”
“Hey, Hugo. What’re we gonna do?”
While Hugo hesitated, Chrome tightened his grip on his axe, keeping an eye on the Orc. Transcendents in the Maze can’t interfere with mortals unless they’ve issued a trial. Same goes for monsters like Orcs possessed by spirits.
If they refused the trial and fled, there’d be little the Demon could do to stop them.
Hugo spoke up.
“…Since this is an unusual situation, let’s decline the trial and—”
**[Ah, good point. Mortals, you know there’s a group of Orcs nearby, right?]**
Then the Demon, Enkeos, interrupted with a grin full of malice.
**[True, trapped Transcendents can’t mess with mortals unless they issue a trial. But bringing over a horde of Orcs? That shouldn’t be too hard.]**
“What…”
**[Of course, you could still refuse. There’s divine protection given to you mortals by those pesky gods. Planning to use it to escape, huh?]**
“…”
Hugo pondered. Assuming what the Demon said was true about a nearby Orc horde…
It was absurd that mid-tier Orcs would gather in the 5th level, but if a Demon made its way here, why not a group of Orcs? Besides, a Demon could easily conjure one if it wanted. Given how Maze monsters are born from the residual energy of trapped Transcendents, it wasn’t far-fetched.
The statement could be true—or if not, the Demon would make it so. Either way, refusing the trial meant facing the Orc horde… and they stood no chance against a pack of mid-tier monsters.
They should run—but escaping from the Orc horde would require using the emergency divine blessing.
However…
“…Failing this mission will hit us pretty hard.”
“…”
An Academy student escort mission. Using the emergency divine blessing would guarantee mission failure. It was a lucrative job, relatively easy, but failing it would sting badly. Being labeled as a party unable to guide students even to the 5th level would tank their reputation and dry up future missions.
Hugo closed his eyes momentarily, lost in thought. Then he glanced at his original teammates, Chrome and Mirien.
“…”
“…”
Chrome smirked, while Mirien hesitated briefly before nodding. Hugo nodded back and called out four names.
“Miss Eri, Miss Sia, Hans, and Mr. Yujin, please step back.”
“Huh? Are you accepting the trial?”
Yujin asked calmly, his expression frozen in shock.
Hugo gave a bitter smile.
“There’s no choice. I’m the party leader, and failing this mission would deal a major blow to our group. As adventurers, we’ll just have to take the risk.”
“Will you not ask for help?”
“Eri and Sia are students we’re supposed to protect. Hans is the porter, and Yujin… well, you were just caught up in this. Asking for your help wouldn’t be right.”
“…Understood.”
With that, Yujin stepped back. The others hesitated but followed suit, and Hugo nodded.
“We accept the trial.”
“We accept.”
“I accept.”
**[Kukukuku! Excellent!]**
[Trial beginning.]
And it began—with the Orc, or rather, Enkeos.
Swinging a massive wooden club straight at Hugo.
Whoosh!!!
The club flew toward Hugo with a ferocious whistling sound.
Hugo quickly dodged backward.
“Mirien!”
At Hugo’s shout, Mirien immediately drew her bow and fired at Enkeos.
Pew!
The arrow struck the Orc squarely, but Enkeos didn’t flinch.
After all, it wasn’t his real body. Still, the party realized one thing:
“This Demon is slightly stronger than a normal Orc!”
Indeed, reality matched their assessment.
Coming all the way up to the 5th level, combined with the “spirit possession” of the Orc’s body, along with the constraints of forcing a trial in the upper levels—all these factors meant Enkeos, already a low-tier Demon, couldn’t unleash his full power. His demonic energy could barely enhance this body minimally.
But Enkeos didn’t care.
Plop!
He pulled out the arrows, and the wounds sealed instantly.
Seeing this, the party froze.
‘Regeneration?!’
Extremely rare hyper-regeneration. Even Trolls, known for their regeneration, couldn’t heal this fast.
Tension rippled across the party’s faces.
**[Kukukuku! Come on, mortals!]**
**ROOOAAARRR!!!**
Demonic energy erupted from the Orc’s body, filling the air with a foul aura, making the party grimace.
“This Demon bastard!”
Chrome charged forward, and Enkeos grinned wickedly, swinging his club.
Whooosh!
But Chrome leaped off the ground, evading the strike mid-air, then raised both battleaxes high…
Crack!
And slammed them down onto the Orc’s head!
**”Ugh… Gah…!”**
The axes pierced deep into the Orc’s skull, causing its body to tremble violently before collapsing limply.
“Hmph…”
No matter how powerful the regeneration, the head remains a vital spot. Crush it, and even a Troll king wouldn’t survive.
Relaxing for a moment…
WHAM!
“Ugh!”
Chrome was suddenly grabbed by the Orc’s hand.
“Wha-! What the hell!”
**[Kukuku… Beautiful sight, isn’t it? The look of panic after assuming you’d won—it’s priceless.]**
Laughing cruelly, the Orc, with axes still embedded in its head, lifted Chrome into the air like a ragdoll.
GRRRAAAHHH!!!
“Ughh!”
“Chrome!”
Seeing this, Hugo rushed forward. But Enkeos grinned and swung his club.
Whoosh!
“Gah!”
Crack!
Hugo deflected the incoming club with his shield and surged forward, sword in hand.
Slice!
He severed the Orc’s wrist holding Chrome!
The Orc’s hand—and Chrome—fell to the ground. Hugo quickly scooped Chrome up and retreated.
“Chrome, are you alright?”
“Grrr… Sorry, Hugo. Got careless.”
Coughing up blood, Chrome’s internal organs seemed damaged. Hugo frowned deeply.
“Hugo.”
“…Mirien.”
Mirien called out from beside him. Turning, Hugo saw determination in her eyes.
“Buy me some time. Just 10… no, 6 seconds.”
“What?”
“The head won’t work if it regenerates. We need raw firepower. So…”
“Wait, what are you talking about…”
“No time. Trust me and cover me.”
She pulled her hood back, revealing flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. But what caught Hugo’s attention more than her beauty were the pointed ears peeking through her locks.
“Please.”
“…”
Staring at her for a moment, Hugo finally steeled himself and stepped forward.
“I trust you.”
“…Thanks.”
Meanwhile, Enkeos regenerated his wrist and pulled the axes from his head. His injuries had healed long ago, and now he advanced toward Hugo’s party.
**[Kukuku, conversation’s over. Time to die.]**
“…Come on.”
**[KUURRRRAAAAHHHH!!!]**
The Orc charged, his club wreathed in demonic energy resembling a black blade.
Even without access to demonic powers or typical dark magic, the threat remained palpable.
Hugo watched, then braced his shield and charged forward.
**[Madman! You wanna die?]**
“Grgh!”
But Hugo suddenly dropped low and slid beneath the Orc’s bulk.
**[Tricks won’t save you!]**
The Orc spun around to swing his club, but Hugo’s blade struck his ankle faster.
**[What?!]**
Thrown off balance, the Orc collapsed. At the same moment, Mirien shouted.
“Hugo, get back!”
A brilliant crimson glow surrounded her.
Hugo quickly retreated as she cried out.
“Spirits!”
WHOOSH!
Her incantation transformed the light into a massive fireball hurtling toward the fallen Orc.
BOOMMMMMM!!!
**[AAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!]**
The Orc’s body erupted in flames.
Seeing this, Hugo sighed in relief. Clearly, the creature was rapidly turning to ash…
WHAM!
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, a flaming club smashed into Hugo, sending him flying and tumbling across the ground.
“Hugo!”
**[Kukuku… Surprised?]**
The Orc rose, his burning body advancing slowly toward Mirien.
His fiery grin truly resembled a demon incarnate.
“A, ah…”
**[Ah yes… That look of terror suits you perfectly. This is exactly what I came here for in the upper levels!]**
The Demon laughed gleefully.
**[Despair, fear, sorrow… How sweet! Delightful indeed!]**
“How… how is this possible…”
**[Ah, confused, are you? Let me enlighten you.]**
The Demon chuckled menacingly.
**[You mortals assumed this body’s power was mere regeneration, didn’t you? Wrong. What I bestowed on this body for this trial is conditional immortality! Any attack that doesn’t meet specific conditions will regenerate automatically.]**
“That…!”
**[Kukuku, unfair, isn’t it? And you don’t even know the condition. But hey, I’ll tell you anyway.]**
Saying this, the Demon slashed vertically down his own body with a sinister grin.
**[This body must be bisected cleanly. Or completely annihilated without a trace. Though neither option seems likely for you…]**
“So that’s it. Thanks for the info.”
**[Eh?]**
SWOOSH!
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air as the Orc’s body split cleanly in two.
**[Wha… Wha…?]**
From the halved corpse came the Demon’s startled voice. Then—
THUD! THUD!
The two halves fell apart, revealing a man standing behind, fingers still extended as if drawing an invisible line.
“Wow, you really were helpful. Some kind of manga trope going on here, or what? Never expected you’d spill the weakness so willingly.”
The man, Yujin, grinned cheerfully.
[Congratulations on passing the trial!]
And with the appearance of the blue window, the message of trial completion appeared.
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