"And I just want to pass it on… before I vanish for good."

Alden didn't know what to say.

Leaving a legacy? Was it more important than survival?

Still, he asked the only thing he could. "What do you mean?"

The possibility's voice was quieter now, as if it was fading with each word. "I'm not alive, Alden… I remember dying."

He let the silence settle between them before continuing.

"I don't know how. I don't know why. But right before my final breath… something pulled me here as if giving me one last chance."

Alden stayed silent for a moment.

But he could see it—

The possibility's body was growing dimmer.

He didn't have much time left.

Alden knew the system would block him from answering anything about the events he hinted at.

Still, there were other questions. Ones which hopefully wouldn't be restricted.

He knew he was being selfish by asking questions to someone who was dying but if he didn't ask now, he might never get the answers he needed.

So he asked.

"When will I awaken my bloodline?" His voice was calm. "And what is the seed of transcendence?"

These two questions had been something he was most curious about ever since he first awakened them.

But he never found answers to them, so he dismissed it back then.

The possibility didn't complain if anything a smile appeared on his face as if only now had Alden asked a useful question.

"I can't speak clearly about the bloodline," he said. "The system won't let me. But know this—"

He paused.

"It will awaken… when you're worthy of it. Our mother made sure of that."

He continued.

"As for the Seed of Transcendence…" His tone deepened. "It is the key to breaking through the barrier of Primordial. The knowledge of it was erased from the world long ago."

He turned back to Alden.

"But without it… no one can step beyond the Overlord Rank ever. This is all I can tell you about it."

"Any more questions? And don't ask about our previous life… I won't be able to answer that." He said, his body was nearly transparent as if every word was consuming his time here.

Why?

Alden frowned but he didn't have any time to overthink.

So, he asked his last question.

"Who are our parents?"

The possibility let out a bitter smile.

"I don't know, Alden. I really don't."

He looked down, for the first time avoiding Alden's gaze.

"They were just… selfish bastards."

His voice cracked, just slightly.

"Bastards, who wanted their child to live, no matter what… even if it meant that child would suffer for eternity."

And then, his body began to fade.

"It seems my time is over."

His gaze met Alden's one last time.

"Remember this, Alden—

Right now, you're too weak for the answers.

Too weak to understand the truth about the world beyond."

"But when the time is right… the answers will come."

"So for now, just focus on growing stronger."

And with those words, he vanished.

The space around Alden trembled.

As a system window appeared before him.

[YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE FINAL TRIAL]

[THE TEMPLE OF SHADOWED SELF IS BEING DESTROYED]

His body turned ethereal and weightless.

Through fading eyes, he saw the temple begin to collapse, stone by stone.

Just then, from the heart of the ruin, a massive altar appeared.

And then they came. Countless orbs of soft blue light spiraling upward from the altar, forming a vortex.

Alden recognized them instantly.

Souls. The ones trapped here for what might have been centuries.

As his own form shimmered, he knew he was returning to reality.

But before he completely vanished, he heard a voice.

"Thank you Damien."

He turned and then he saw her. The girl with platinum blonde hair and golden eyes, standing right in front of him.

Elva.

Unlike the others, her soul hadn't taken the shape of an orb. She still looked… human.

Is this because she was a guardian?

He didn't know if she could hear him anymore. But he smiled… brightly. "My real name is Alden."

He tried to search the sea of souls for the other girl… the quiet guardian of the third chamber.

But she was nowhere to be found.

Before he could search further, the light swallowed him whole.

And he vanished.

—

Elva looked at the spot where her savior had stood only moments ago.

"Alden…"

She whispered the name softly as a small smile appeared on her face.

"Fate really does work strangely, huh?"

Her gaze drifted toward the altar, towards her freedom.

"How can the one who trapped us… and the one who set us free… share the same name?"

She paused, the corner of her mouth curling into something bittersweet.

"Must be a coincidence… right?"

—

Meanwhile, Alden was teleported within a dark void.

A place he recognized.

He didn't know what it truly was but he called it his soul space.

Yet, unlike the last time he'd found himself here, something had changed.

The golden book—his Eclipse Codex—was still floating in its usual spot without a change.

He understood the reason.

The upgraded tome the failed possibility left behind… It was still sealed, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

Then, his gaze paused on the Crimson orb—his supreme skill. It was also the same as before.

But this time…

There was something new.

Just beyond the orb's reach, a massive sun hovered. Its core glowed with blinding light while its edges swallowed by shadows.

Is that the strike he left behind?

Alden stepped forward towards it. But no matter how much he walked, he couldn't reach it.

An invisible wall held him back, sealing the sun away…

Tsk, can't even check it huh?

Just then, with a ding sound the system window appeared.

[THE ▒▒▒▒▒ TRIAL HAS BEEN COMPLETED]

[THE ▒▒▒▒▒ INSIDE YOUR SOUL INCREASED]

[33% → 40%]

[REWARD — A STRIKE FROM A FAILED POSSIBILITY RECEIVED]

So, it counted the strike as a reward.

Talk about being stingy.

But he couldn't really say anything. If that strike could truly help him avoid that future… then it was worth it.

Even losing [Limit Break] felt like a small price.

He had many thoughts about,

What was the temple?

Were Elva and the little girl really released?

Who was the spectator?

How was his failed possibility there?

But he knew, now wasn't the time to be thinking about that…

Kyun's probably panicking right now,

Especially since my whole body had vanished this time, not just the soul.

He thought with a small smile as he walked to the crimson orb of his supreme ability and tapped it lightly.

Time to go back home.

With that last thought, his whole body vanished.

—

Author's Note:

I honestly don't know how this arc turned out.

Maybe some of you felt it was rushed.

Maybe others found it too slow.

Maybe a few parts felt a little too dramatic or even cringe.

And if that's the case, I would really love your feedback about it and what felt off, it would help me a lot to improve as an author.

With this Trial Arc is Over.

Next: Inter-Academy Tournament Arc will begin.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.