Chapter 45: CH-45
"Continue"
Once again, the floor and walls moved, and I found myself in an open area. It was a colossal structure reminiscent of Roman gladiator arenas.
Towering walls, easily ten storeys high, enclosed the whole place. At each corner, strange flags fluttered above rows of small prison gates.
Just looking at them made my skin crawl.
Please don’t let the test be fighting whatever’s behind those gates with nothing but my fists.
While I was still trying to understand what was going on, the ground began to vibrate, and from beneath, a throne made of bones slowly emerged.
Sitting on it was a figure that made my blood run cold, not because she looked scary, but quite the opposite.
She was beautiful—so much that she looked inhuman, unnatural. Like staring at a painting.
Especially those crimson eyes. Glowing like lanterns in the dark, with slit-shaped pupils resembling a serpent’s gaze.
The rest of her was no less breathtaking.
Long black hair flowed down her back, contrasting with her pale, flawless skin. Two sharp, curved goat horns jutted from her head, adding a touch of darkness to an otherwise perfect face.
She wore an elegant dark dress that fit her figure like it was woven just for her, and yet it did little to soften the chains that coiled tightly around her body.
If it weren’t for the whole radiating‑death thing, I would probably fall for her on the spot.
Seriously? Who wouldn’t be tempted by a demon that stunning? Shame she looked like she would rip my heart out for fun.
She tilted her head, probably wondering why I was too quiet... or worse, noticing the way my eyes had wandered to her cleavage.
Please don’t let it be that. I’m pretty sure my persuasion won’t work on her.
"How did a mortal like you come to this place?" Her voice echoed through the empty arena despite the substantial distance between us.
I was momentarily shocked because she sounded so real, not like a simulation. The way she looked at me with those tantalizing eyes was something only a sentient being could do.
"Why aren’t you answering my question?"
Her eyes glowed, and I thought she would incinerate me on the spot with just a glare.
"An avatar, huh? First, they put me in this place and now this?"
Her expression darkened, and blood-red aura exploded from her body, swallowing the entire arena in an instant.
The moment it touched me, my knees hit the ground.
[System Protection Initiated: Protecting Host Soul]
A blue glow wrapped around me, wiping the pressure.
I stood there feeling fine—stronger, even rejuvenated. That blue light had given me a boost, far greater than the evil Qi.
The system was really holding back on me. To think it had a skill like that could even neutralize that kind of aura.
"Who sent you here?" she asked again, this time her voice grinding in my ears like metal scraping against stone.
"I checked your body—you don’t have the mark of those bastards. Even that light from before came from a power I don’t recognize."
It took me a second to reply.
"I just found myself here after accepting a mission... something about awakening my power."
No response. Instead, she rested a hand on her chin, silently studying me from head to toe.
"Very well. I’ll overlook your insolence, since you’re not sent by those wretched beings. But if you truly intend to take the trial, know this—you will certainly fail. Give up now and leave this place while you still can."
’Give up?’
Only a total dumbass would back away now. I sacrificed a chance at S‑rank for this, so I’m not leaving empty‑handed.
"I want to know the trial, first."
She shook her head and sighed. "Didn’t you hear what I said?"
"I did," I stood my ground. "But I don’t care. I want to know my chances."
She tapped her throne lightly with a long, black nail, the sound echoing like a whip. It made me question whether I was really making the right choice.
"Greedy mortals." Her voice dripped with contempt. "Always clawing for more. That insatiable hunger is why you end up in trouble every single time."
A sudden pulse of energy rippled from her, making the air thrum and the chains around her wrists vibrate, but the system held me steady.
Seeing her annoyed expression filled me with even more confidence. It seemed the system was willing to protect me, as long as the attack wasn’t part of a trial.
"Oh, for someone who looks down on mortals, you’re really struggling to deal with me, aren’t you?"
She leaned forward slightly on her throne, the chains rattling softly.
"’You insect! If not for this...’ she raised her hand, and the chains clinked. She stopped after realizing her blunder.
An idea came to mind. Demon or not, she was still a woman, imprisoned and vulnerable in this place.
Seizing the chance, I stepped closer to her and spoke.
"Let’s talk. You sound like you’ve been cooped up here forever."
"How dare you speak to me so casually, mortal? Do you think you can joke your way out?"
"I get it. You’ve been stuck here a long time... and anyone would get pissed off in your situation."
Her eyes flickered, just slightly, but enough to tell me she was listening.
"Let’s make a deal."
"A deal?" Her brow arched in disgust. "With a mortal?"
She was still looking down on me, her eyes filled with disdain, the faint aura of superiority was radiating off her like a mist. I knew I had to change that perception before any real conversation could happen.
I straightened my posture and let a confident smile creep across my face.
"You think I’m weak, don’t you? That I’m just another mortal who’ll crumble under your gaze."
Her lips twitched, but she didn’t interrupt.
"Aren’t you even a little curious who’s backing me up? I mean, think about it—I managed to get in here and shrug off your aura with little to no effort."
"You—" she hissed. "Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?"
"I don’t know who you are, but the fact is—you’re trapped here, and it doesn’t look like you’re going anywhere anytime soon. So how about you listen to me first? It’s not like you’ve got anything better to do."
Her eyes widened more out of disbelief than anger. Then, a low, humorless laugh escaped her lips.
"You... are either brave or unbearably foolish. No one has ever spoken to me that way and lived long enough to gloat about it."
I shrugged, keeping my composure. "Then I’ll be the first."
Her smirk faltered, just for a heartbeat, as if the audacity actually caught her off guard.
The chains coiled faintly around her arms, but she didn’t lash out. Instead, she leaned back against her throne and exhaled slowly.
"Very well. Speak. But if you utter nonsense, I will unleash my full strength. I will accept any backlash, so long as I can burn your soul."
Instinctively, I stepped back. She meant every word — and the arena’s torches guttered as if the light itself feared her.