NOVEL NEXT Chapter 567 Great Rewards
567 Great Rewards
As soon as the illusion shattered, Adam felt disoriented down to his core.
He wobbled back and forth, unable to maintain his balance. A moment later, he fell down on his knees, gasping for breath.
The circular stone chamber had replaced the expansive desert. He looked around in a slight daze. The scorching sun was no longer there, and neither was the sandstorm.
His sense of hunger, thirst, and exhaustion had also been reduced drastically. However, it was still too much for him to bear.
Although he was a Mana Liquefaction Magus, he was still significantly weakened after having had nothing to eat or drink in the past sixty days.
He raised his trembling hands and found that they were much skinnier than before. He touched his face gently, feeling his overgrown beard and his haggard skin.
Then, he glanced at his dark robes. They were still there, however, they seemed slightly bigger for his physique.
He had lost a lot of weight and even the muscles that he had diligently trained for so many years to sculpt.
Right at that moment, he felt his earring pulse ever so slightly. This caused his eyes to light up and he immediately conjured a jug of water.
He slowly drank one jug after another, only stopping when he had emptied half a dozen of those.
Finally, a faint semblance of life returned to his eyes.
The very next moment, the androgynous voice spoke up once again, "Endurance through suffering and adversity without losing virtue is a core philosophical principle that all great individuals have in common."
"Patience, resilience, and the ability to endure are the marks of a wise and strong Magus. Since the establishment of this castle, you are the first one to pass the Trial of Endurance! Congratulations!"
Adam was taken aback. "I… am the first?"
But in hindsight, he felt like it made sense. After all, how many people would be able to endure what he did?
Not many.
Adam would even go so far as to assume that this test was specifically harder for him.
Unlike others who would take this test, he had an item that could be used to counter the illusion.
This was a temptation even more difficult to resist. Even he did not know just how he was able to complete the test.
However, he did have a hint.
He limply laid down on the ground, gazing at the glowing stalactites on the ceiling.
"Could it be because of my Way of Magic?" He muttered softly to himself.
"It must be… my Way of Magic deeply resonated with my mind and soul…
"Bringing out the light of perseverance in my heart!"
Gradually, a faint smile bloomed on his weary face as he thought to himself, The benefits are already starting to show…
No wonder the Magi in the greater universe are taught the importance of cultivating their Way of Magic from a very early age.
All I can say is, I am very grateful!
His thoughts were interrupted when the voice from before sounded once more.
"Seeker, you have passed the Trial of Endurance and have emerged stronger. You have proven your ability to face the hardest challenges with resolve."
It paused for a moment before continuing in the same mechanical tone, "Now, you may accept your rewards!"
The following moment, the space near the ceiling distorted and a dozen objects suddenly appeared, hurling toward Adam.
They stopped a meter before the youth, hovering in mid-air.
"It's those daggers again," said the young man as he sat up.
He had received four of these feather-shaped daggers in the previous trial where he had to battle his desires.
This time, he received twelve of them.
The androgynous voice introduced, "Nighthollow - A Rank 4 Artifact crafted in the likeness of a raven's feather."
"It is more than just a dagger—it is a symbol of death and silence. Each stroke sends its victim into an abyss of eternal night, their screams silenced before they ever escape their lips."
"Only he who has passed the Trial of Endurance has the right to wield these fine weapons of murder."
"The potential of this weapon will be fully unlocked once the wielder has advanced to Rank 4 - Mana Core Rank. Until then, its strength will be limited to the strength of the wielder."
Adam's eyeballs threatened to pop out of his sockets. Upon hearing the weapons' introduction, he was thunderstruck, to say the least.
"Rank 4 artifact?!!" He blurted out in shock.
The last time when he checked these weapons out—when he got them in the second trial—he had confirmed that they were no stronger than Rank 2 artifacts.
But upon hearing the introduction, he finally understood why that was the case.
"So these daggers are only as powerful as their wielder…" he muttered in a daze. "In truth, they're actually Rank 4 artifacts!!"
Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation on both his wrists. He lowered his head and looked at them, and was immediately stunned.
Small raven feather markings were being magically carved around his wrists. Before he could react further, the feather tattoos were completed.
Then, the twelve daggers hovering in the air shot toward his wrists, diving straight into the two feather tattoos.
Adam was speechless!
"What… what the heck?! Is this tattoo like a storage artifact? In-Incredible! Can I put other items inside them?"
Out of curiosity and excitement, he took out random items from his earrings and tried to put them inside the tattoos on his wrists.
However, he failed.
But when he tried to put the four daggers that he already had in his possession, he succeeded.
"I see," he said to himself. "So this tattoo is like the scabbard for Nighthollow, huh?"
He then proceeded to experiment with the weapons. With just a simple thought, he was able to conjure two daggers in his hands. And with another thought, he was able to store them back inside the tattoos.
Moreover, this weapon was quite convenient for him and complemented his hand-to-hand fighting style.
He was more than satisfied after having received Rank 4 artifacts, but he remembered the voice saying there were rewards.
As expected, the space above him vibrated a moment later, and a dark cloak floated toward him.
The voice introduced this reward in a timely manner.
"Cloak of Resilience - A Rank 2 Artifact designed to shield its wearer from both physical and mental harm, embodying the idea of inner strength and protection."
"It provides resistance against natural elements such as heat, cold, or extreme winds. It also offers protection against magical elements involving fire, ice, lightning, and more."
"The cloak offers protection against illusions, mind control, or psychological attacks. Any attempt to create doubt, fear, or panic in the wearer's mind is greatly diminished, allowing them to think clearly even in stressful situations."
"When wearing the cloak, the individual experiences enhanced endurance and stamina. It also provides additional resistance to physical harm. It doesn't act like heavy armor, but instead absorbs the impact from the enemy's blow."
The voice paused for a moment before adding, "The Cloak of Resilience represents the strength to endure life's hardships, whether they come from external forces like dangerous environments or internal struggles like fear and doubt."
"It symbolizes the importance of maintaining both physical and emotional balance in the face of adversity, embodying resilience and unwavering willpower."
The dark, hooded cloak gently covered Adam's back almost as if it had a mind of its own.
"Not a bad artifact!" Adam praised.
Although this one paled in comparison to Nighthollow, it was still a great item for a Rank 2 artifact. Unlike the ones he had received before, he planned to keep this cloak for himself.
Recalling the grueling experience he had to go through for over a year, Adam now felt that it was all worth it.
Even though only two months had passed in reality, for him close to fourteen months had actually passed!
He slowly got to his feet, intending on going back to his manor in the Uptown Quarter and having a grand feast. He had been famished for two months, after all.
Adam decided that he would come back later and participate in the final trial of this inheritance.
But just as he got to his feet, the androgynous voice echoed inside the chamber, taking him by surprise.
"Seeker, prepare yourself for the third and final reward."
Adam's eyebrows rose slightly. "There's another one?"
The following moment, the ground suddenly began to tremble and slowly started to part from the center. From the gap, a large marble basin emerged.
Inside the enormous basin was a clear, crystal-like liquid with a slight luminescent glow.
"Hmm?" Adam slowly walked forward and proceeded to dip his finger inside the basin. "What's this?"
As soon as he touched the liquid, he found himself rooted on the spot with an expression full of sheer disbelief.
Right at that moment, the voice echoed once again inside the room, giving a brief introduction of the reward.
"The Sacred Waters of Lustrum - a rare and magical substance found only in the Great Kuch Desert in the Indus Continent."
"Revered as a legendary natural elixir capable of restoring vitality and curing ailments. The local inhabitants of Great Kuch believe it to be a gift from mana given only to those who understand its true value."
"Legend has it, that these sacred waters have the miraculous ability to extend life!"