CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 315: THE FINAL TRIAL (PART 1)

Alix doesn’t even move at first. His expression is calm, almost bored. Then, in a blur, he disappears from where he stands.

A thunderous boom splits the air.

The Lavabreaker Beast doesn’t even have time to roar. Alix reappears right in front of it—his right arm glowing faintly with compressed mana. He swings once.

SLAP.

The sound echoes across the entire arena. The impact sends a visible shockwave through the air, scattering dust and molten fragments. The beast’s massive head snaps sideways—its body following a moment later as it’s flung several meters away.

It crashes into the stone wall—then slumps, dead.

A brief silence follows.

Mero floats there, blinking. "...You—wait. Did you just—" He squints, his smoky form flickering. "Did you just slap it to death?"

Alix brushes the dust from his shoulder. "Yeah, is that a problem?"

Mero stares. Then he lets out a small laugh. "Well, it’s not. I’m just a little surprised."

Mero’s eyes gleam with excitement. "Let’s see if you can keep that same attitude, contestant! Wave two—BEGIN!"

"Let’s get this over with."

The next gate slams open with a deafening clang. Sparks shower the arena floor as molten chains snap loose.

A middle-level Tier 6 beast strides out—massive and armored in bony plates, its body wreathed in faint crimson flame. It lets out a thunderous bellow, shaking the air. The ground cracks beneath its steps, and the temperature spikes instantly.

Mero’s voice booms from above, eager again. "Wave two! A Flamehorn Basilisk! Let’s see if our contestant can—"

BOOM.

The words die on his tongue.

Alix vanishes in a flicker of blue light. The air ripples, mana pressure detonating where he stood.

The Basilisk’s head jerks sideways—then explodes in a shower of molten ichor as Alix’s open palm connects with its skull. The sheer force caves in half its body, splattering the ground with glowing blood. The corpse slides several meters before it stops moving.

Mero’s smoke form trembles midair, blinking once. "...You slapped that one too."

Alix dusts his hands. "I’m consistent."

The little creature lets out a small nervous laugh. "Ah-haha... consistency is important, yes."

But even as it speaks, its ember eyes narrow.

He can feel Alix’s mana—stable, calm, low-tier six at best.

And yet... his strikes carry the power of a monster far beyond that.

Something isn’t adding up.

Before Mero can dwell on it, the third gate screeches open. The ground shakes violently as a high-level Tier 6 beast steps out—this one a winged brute covered in iron feathers, its eyes glowing silver.

It spreads its wings, a thousand metallic blades cutting through the air. "Krrrhh—!"

It launches forward, the entire arena exploding in shockwaves.

Alix doesn’t move until the last moment. His gaze sharpens. He clenches his right fist.

Mana condenses—dense, pure, sharp.

He meets the charging beast head-on.

BOOM!

His punch lands square on its chest. The creature’s wings disintegrate mid-flight, metal feathers scattering like sparks. Its body folds inward, bones and armor crushed by a single blow. The carcass rockets backward and slams into the far wall, embedding itself halfway through the stone before it collapses lifelessly to the floor.

Mero floats frozen in place. His glowing eyes widen slightly. "Okay, that one... that one had defenses strong enough to tank a peak tier 6 attack."

Alix turns slightly, his voice calm. "Didn’t work."

"...You’re a freak of nature," Mero mutters under his breath.

The creature’s smoke body flickers as it stares down at Alix below.

He isn’t even breathing hard. No tension in his muscles. No sign of strain.

Just that same cold, effortless calm.

The fourth gate begins to rise. The molten chains stretch until they snap apart, and a deep, rumbling roar follows—one that makes the very air vibrate.

A peak-tier 6 beast steps out.

A towering mountain of muscle and scales, twelve meters tall, its claws sharp enough to shear through boulders. The very air bends around it from sheer mana pressure. Its crimson eyes lock onto Alix, dripping with bloodlust.

Mero straightens slightly. "Now this one... this one might actually—"

BOOM.

The beast blurs forward before Mero finishes. It’s fast—too fast for something that size.

Alix doesn’t flinch. He plants his feet, his aura igniting with a low hum. His fist rises again, mana compressing tighter this time—dense enough to distort the air around it.

When the beast’s claw comes down, Alix moves.

One punch.

The sound is like a thunderclap. The shockwave tears through the arena, shattering stone and scattering fire. The giant’s chest caves inward completely—bones, flesh, and heart crushed in an instant.

The body doesn’t even get to fall. It explodes outward in a wave of dust and blood.

Alix lowers his arm, exhaling slowly.

Mero just stares. Not a word escapes him. The little smoke creature floats down slightly, its glowing eyes wide and unblinking.

"...You’re... kidding me."

He looks from the shattered remains to Alix, then back again. "That was a peak-tier six. Peak. And you..." he gestures vaguely with a smoky tendril, "...you killed it like you were swatting flies."

Alix looks up at him, deadpan. "You said it was the Trial of Strength. I’m showing strength."

Mero’s smoky form ripples uncertainly. "...You have low-tier six aura. I can feel that. And yet you’re hitting like—like you’re above tier 6."

He exhales—or tries to; it comes out as a puff of mist. "Alright, fine. You passed wave four."

The arena hums again. The crimson runes pulse with new light, forming a ring of molten symbols around Alix. The air grows heavier—thicker—every breath laced with raw, predatory intent.

Mero’s tone shifts—lighter, but with a faint undertone of warning. "Okay, next will be the final beast." He straightens, a faint red glow surrounding him. "And this one isn’t just muscle and mana. It’s a tier seven."

He glances at Alix, voice dropping. "A fair warning, tier 7’s already have intelligence comparable to adult humans."

The arena rumbles like a volcano about to erupt. Lava seeps from cracks in the ground, flowing toward a massive, sealed gate across from Alix. Its surface glows with crimson sigils that twist and burn.

Clank.

One chain falls.

Clank.

Another.

The entire arena vibrates under the pressure of what’s behind that gate.

Mero’s ember eyes flick nervously. "That seal hasn’t been opened in centuries... my master sealed this one personally."

The last chain snaps. The gates creak open, spilling blinding light and molten heat.

A massive silhouette steps through.

Each footstep shakes the stone. A low growl rumbles across the air like thunder. The creature that emerges is enormous—ten meters tall, its body encased in crimson obsidian armor that pulses faintly with veins of gold. Two massive horns curl backward from its head, and molten smoke leaks from its jaws with every breath.

Its eyes—deep, intelligent, and burning with restrained fury—lock onto Mero first.

"Finally..." The beast’s voice is guttural but articulate, resonating like grinding stone. "After so long... I am finally out again."

Mero straightens slightly. "Yeah-yeah... But don’t get too excited—your opponent’s right there."

The beast turns its head slowly. Its gaze settles on Alix.

The moment it senses his aura, its expression sours. Disappointment and irritation flicker across its molten features.

"...Mero." Its deep voice rumbles through the arena, low and disdainful. "What is this?"

Mero blinks. "What’s what?"

"This." The beast gestures lazily toward Alix. It narrows its molten eyes, analyzing Alix more closely. "He’s weak. A low-tier six at best. You wake me for this?"

Mero raises both smoky hands. "Hey, hey, don’t look at me. It’s the rules. He’s the final challenger."

The beast huffs, molten steam blasting from its nostrils. "Challenger? You mock me." Its voice grows colder. "Your master seal me for centuries and then toss me a worm to crush. I expected at least a tier 7 genius."

Alix says nothing. His expression remains unreadable.

The beast turns fully toward him, looming over him like a mountain of magma and fury. Its mana surges outward—heavy, oppressive, enough to make the stone beneath its feet melt into glowing cracks.

It grins, revealing fangs like jagged blades. "Tell me, little one. Do you understand what stands before you?"

Alix finally looks up, calm and unflinching. "A beast that talks too much."

For a moment, silence.

Then the beast laughs—a sound like thunder splitting the air. "Hah! Bold. You’ll die quickly, but at least you have spirit."

Mero rises higher into the air, keeping a wary distance. "Let’s see if you can still keep up with a Tier 7 beast."

The beast’s claws flex, molten veins brightening. "Let’s end this, insect."