NOVEL NEXT Chapter 377: The Final Trial Was Never a Trial
The storm of swords spun around Zelia, cutting the ground into pieces.
The Hero Supreme tried to push through, his glowing sword swinging with all his might.
"Break, damn you! I won't lose to a girl!"
But every time his blade cut one sword, two more appeared.
Phantom cuts slashed across his arms and chest.
His breathing grew heavy, his grip weaker.
The Cultivator Supreme roared, golden qi bursting around him.
He threw punch after punch, breaking through several flying swords.
But thin red lines appeared on his body with each clash.
His chest heaved, his fists trembling. "What… what kind of power is this?! My body shouldn't be cut this easily!"
Zelia stepped forward calmly, her voice cold.
"[Sword Demon Ether]… every cut stays with you. Even if you heal, the fear of the blade remains."
The Hero Supreme staggered, blood dripping from his chin.
He tried to lift his sword again, but his arms shook. "No… I can't… lose here…"
His knees buckled as phantom cuts seared into his mind, making him feel sliced apart again and again.
The Cultivator Supreme clenched his fists, but even he stepped back.
His qi wavered, his strikes slower. "This… this pressure… my body doesn't listen…"
Zelia raised her hand, hundreds of blades forming above her.
"You thought you could overpower me. But all I needed was time."
"Bit by bit, my swords carve away your strength… your courage… your will."
The Hero Supreme fell to one knee, slamming his fist on the ground in frustration.
"Not yet! I will not fall to you!"
Golden light burst from his chest as he activated [Last Bastion Strike].
A giant phantom fortress rose behind him, its walls glowing as he charged forward, fist aimed at Zelia's chest.
At the same time, the Cultivator Supreme roared, and his body glowed with surging qi.
His veins bulged as he forced his life force into one final move.
"[Celestial Destruction Fist]!" he shouted, his punch carrying the weight of mountains and storms.
Both attacks crashed toward Zelia at once.
But Zelia's eyes didn't even blink. Dozens of blades around her fused into one massive sword.
With a wave of her hand, she slashed forward with [Sword Demon Ether], phantom cuts spilling across the field.
The fortress phantom cracked. The golden walls shattered into dust.
The Cultivator's fist struck the giant sword, only for his bones to snap one by one under the endless sharpness. Blood sprayed from his knuckles.
The Hero Supreme coughed, his strike broken, his knees giving way again.
The Cultivator Supreme fell back, his arm hanging uselessly. Both were shaking, their breaths ragged.
They looked up at Zelia, and for the first time, fear filled their eyes.
Zelia raised one finger. Behind her, countless smaller blades shimmered, circling like predators around prey.
"This is the difference between us," she said coldly. "You break piece by piece. I do not break at all."
The blades spun faster, locking on the two Supremes.
With just one thought, she was ready to end them.
---
Zain stood on the high platform inside the Devil Nest, his crimson eyes watching the battlefield.
Velra's whip cracked through the air, binding the Mage Supreme in pain.
Savra's flames burned hotter, pushing the Beastman Supreme to his knees.
And Zelia… her blades carved fear into the Hero and Cultivator Supremes.
Zain smirked. "As expected. My girls crushed them. With this… taking Supreme Island will be easy."
But suddenly, in front of his eyes, a glowing screen appeared. A voice echoed in his mind.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE INITIATED]
[Detected: Host has reached the situation where Hero Hack System is no longer needed]
[Beginning detachment from the host]
Zain froze, his eyes narrowing. "What…? What the hell do you mean by this?!"
The screen flashed again.
[Host sect is detected as one of the strongest sects in this world]
[Host also has the ability: [Heavenly Demon Sect] that can replace Hero Hack System]
[System is not needed anymore]
Zain clenched his fists, his crimson aura flaring for a moment.
"So… you're saying I don't need you anymore? That's it? After everything, you just leave?"
He tilted his head back, laughing coldly."Fine. But at least tell me..."
"What are you? Why did you bring me here? I should have died back then."
The screen pulsed with its last message.
[System is just system]
[Host was chosen simply because he was chosen]
[Goodbye, Host]
[Be strong]
And then… the screen cracked apart like glass and vanished into nothing.
Zain reached out instinctively, but his hand only closed around empty air.
"...That's it? No reason? No answer? Just because I was chosen?"
His hand fell back to his side. His face was calm, but the small frown on his lips showed his irritation.
"So many questions left hanging… and now the system is gone for good. I can't even call it back."
He let out a slow breath, shoulders loosening.
"Fine. Answers or not… I'll move forward myself."
His crimson eyes turned back to the battlefield, sharp once more.
Velra's laughter echoed as her whip snapped down again.
Savra's flames roared, shaking the ground.
Zelia's swords cut down everything in her path.
Zain smirked. "Oh well. I don't need it anymore. I already have everything I need."
"My sect, my power… and my women. Let's finish this war…"
"And make the Heavenly Demon Sect the strongest this world has ever seen."
He stepped forward, his aura flooding the Devil Nest, merging with the expanding demonic ether.
The battlefield trembled as his voice carried out like a command.
"Crush them all."
---
[The 1000th Host has reached completion.]
[All 1000 trials across worlds and timelines are concluded.]
[Processing accumulated data from every host…]
[System authority has transcended into a higher state.]
[Searching for the Final Candidates: The Last Vessels.]
[Multiple designations detected. Selection in progress.]
[Warning: Core functions are sealed. Complete truth cannot be disclosed.]
[Reason: A Vessel cannot withstand the full burden at this stage.]
[This world is only a fragment.]
[The greater purpose begins soon.]