NOVEL NEXT Chapter 292: Reaching the end...
"You—why are you here?"
The other Riley didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly, a faint, almost bored smirk playing on his lips.
"Questions can be answered later,"
Before I could react, he moved.
He dashed toward me like a raging comet, his body blurring with impossible speed.
In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between us, his aura-coated fist glowing with an ominous, writhing energy.
-SWOOSH!—
Instinct took over.
I dodged by a hair's breadth, his fist slicing through the air where my head had been just a moment ago.
The sheer force of his punch created a gust of wind that rustled my hair and sent loose debris scattering across the sanctuary floor.
If I hadn't moved… my head would've been obliterated.
But he didn't stop.
The moment his punch missed, he twisted his body with unnatural fluidity, his movements a masterclass in efficiency and precision.
His hand reached for the hilt of his sword, and in one smooth motion, he drew it.
The blade shimmered with a translucent, greyish-black energy that radiated an oppressive pressure.
It wasn't aura—at least, not in the traditional sense.
The density and raw power were unmistakable. This was condensed mana, refined to a terrifying degree.
-SWIISHH!—
I had no time to hesitate.
My own aura flared to life, an explosive surge of energy coursing through my body.
Gripping the hilt of my sword, I drew it in a single fluid motion, the blade igniting with my own aura-infused energy.
Our swords clashed with a deafening roar.
BOOM!
The collision unleashed a shockwave that reverberated through the sanctuary, shaking the massive stone pillars and sending a cloud of dust spiraling into the air.
The force of the impact forced us both to take a step back, our feet grinding against the ground as we struggled to maintain our balance.
The air grew heavy with tension as the dust began to settle.
To my surprise, it cleared almost instantly, as if the sanctuary itself rejected the impurities.
The pristine, almost sacred atmosphere remained untainted.
We stood there, swords still humming with residual energy, our eyes locked in battle.
"Bastard! You told me you'd explain everything after completing my trial!"
He tilted his head, his expression eerily calm.
"I believe I told you," he said with infuriating composure, "that you'd understand the rest after finishing the trial."
"This clearly isn't the case! I've been given more questions than answers!" I spat, my frustration boiling over.
"I told you…"
His voice trailed off as his body blurred once more, moving faster than before.
This time, he leaped high into the air, his sword raised above his head.
For a brief moment, he seemed to hover, as if the air itself was a platform beneath him.
Then, with terrifying force, his blade came crashing down like a meteor.
"...you'd understand the rest after finishing the trial."
BOOM!
The impact of his strike triggered a massive explosion, sending shockwaves rippling through the sanctuary.
The ground beneath our feet groaned in protest, web-like cracks spidering out from the epicenter of our clash.
My hands trembled as I tightened my grip on my sword, blood seeping from my palms where the hilt bit into my flesh.
"Bastard…" I growled, glaring at him through the haze of dust and debris.
Despite the raw power of our collision, his face remained disturbingly lifeless, his expression devoid of emotion. But I could see it—the faint glimmer in his eyes.
He was excited.
The system's cold, mechanical voice interrupted the tension.
[Note: Trial Tutorial Breakthrough is now in progress.]
[Note: Tutorial will only end after user life presence is confirmed to be ZERO.]
My eyes widened at the implications.
"What the hell?! I didn't even say yes to the trial yet! What do you mean 'user life presence' must be zero? Are you asking me to die to finish this trial?!"
He didn't respond. Instead, he took a step forward, his sword dragging against the cracked ground, emitting a sharp, grating sound.
His silence was louder than any words, and the weight of his intent pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket.
Tsk.
Clicking my tongue in frustration, I activated [Golden Lightning], and arcs of golden electricity crackled to life across my body.
The raw energy surged through me, illuminating the dim sanctuary with a divine glow.
The other me reacted instantly, leaping back to dodge the counter sword strike I aimed at him.
The golden lightning lashed out unpredictably, grazing his hands and leaving faint scorch marks.
Smoke curled from his blackened palms, but he didn't even flinch. It was as if the searing pain was insignificant—or worse, as if he felt nothing at all.
His smoky-black hands flexed, unaffected.
"I still don't know who you really are," I said, narrowing my eyes, "or why you're doing all this. But one thing's for sure—I'm not planning to get killed that easily."
The tension in the air thickened as I released my full aura, letting it spill out in an overwhelming wave.
The ground beneath me cracked further under the weight of my presence.
My heart thundered in my chest, but my resolve was unwavering.
I activated every skill I had at my disposal, their notifications ringing in my ears like a war drum:
[Advanced Swordsmanship (Proficiency 28%)] → [Activated!]
[Absolute Strike! (Proficiency 27%)] → [Activated!]
[Aura (Proficiency 17%)] → [Activated!]
[Dashing Sprint (Proficiency 15%)] → [Activated!]
[Heavenly Strike (Proficiency 15%)] → [Activated!]
[Blink Step (Proficiency 10%)] → [Activated!]
[Blood Rampage (Rare, Proficiency 40%)] → [Activated!]
[Thought Acceleration (Proficiency 40%)] → [Activated!]
[Return (Proficiency 20%)] → [Activated!]
[Raging Storms (Proficiency 75%)] → [Activated!]
[Golden Lightning (Proficiency 95%)] → [Activated!]
[Time Stop (Proficiency 2%)] → [Activated!]
The world froze.
A deafening silence enveloped the sanctuary.
The golden aura surrounding me pulsed, and the once-fluid motions of my opponent came to a sudden halt.
Time itself bent to my will, each moment hanging in suspension like a droplet of water mid-fall.
For the first time, I felt the full force of my abilities coursing through me.
The sheer energy threatened to overwhelm my senses, but I gritted my teeth and focused.
Move.
I stepped forward, faster than a breath, and swung my sword with every ounce of power I could muster.
The blade tore through the still air, glowing with the combined strength of my skills.
But he was ready.
The other me's body blurred as he broke through the frozen moment, meeting my strike with his own.
His sword, veiled in smoky-black energy, collided with mine.
BOOM!
The impact was cataclysmic, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
The ground beneath us disintegrated into a crater, and divine light clashed with shadowed mana, illuminating the sanctuary in a chaotic glow.
For the first time, his apathetic expression cracked. A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he stared at me.
...
In a world painted in void and gray, a young man sat on a worn, aged chair, its once-vivid details now faded by time.
His sharp blue eyes were locked onto a translucent screen floating before him, displaying a vivid scene.
Two figures, eerily similar to himself, clashed in an intense battle of swords.
The energy between them pulsed, their blades colliding with devastating force, each strike echoing through the void.
[… Is this really the right way?]
A voice broke the silence, and another figure appeared beside him.
This newcomer was identical in appearance, yet his presence was distinct, marked by the stark contrast of his all-black suit against the gray emptiness.
[Would you rather it be another?]
The young man's voice was calm, almost detached, as he responded, his gaze never leaving the screen.
The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths, making the black-clad figure scowl in a mix of annoyance and reluctant understanding.
Even though both knew this course of action was harsh—perhaps even cruel—it had been deemed necessary.
The tutorial, designed as a safety net for the Riley outside, was meant to save him in moments of desperation. Yet, the rewards for completing it came at a cost.
A steep cost.
The Riley they watched was slow, weak—nothing like the versions of themselves forged in their respective times.
Compared to what they had achieved, he was little more than a shadow, struggling to keep pace with the demands of this world.
And that was why this "boost" was needed.
But whether it was ethical... that was a different question altogether.
After all, what kind of sane person would willingly kill themselves to face experience the dreadful life of another version of themselves?
[It would've been much more efficient if we just handed him our gifts... He already passed the trials,] the black-clad young man muttered, his gaze fixed on the translucent screen.
The fight raged on, but the outcome was clear—no matter how the battle unfolded, the victory would ultimately be handed to the current Riley.
[That was his own trial. This one is from us,] the seated young man replied firmly, his tone resolute.
[Even still, isn't Second being a bit too harsh?]
[You say that as if you wouldn't have done the same in your turn...]
The black-clad figure smirked, leaning slightly against an invisible surface.
[Well~ I probably would have, but maybe not to that degree of beating,] he replied with a hint of playfulness.
The seated young man shook his head.
[He'll soon learn magic from you. Just don't overdo it.]
[I know, I know...]
The black-clad figure waved dismissively, though his expression hinted at mischief.
Before the conversation could continue, a new voice joined them, lively and full of amusement.
[Speaking of which, you two—what sort of gifts have you prepared?]
The tone was far more energetic than the previous two, and the source soon revealed itself.
Another young man, eerily similar in appearance to the pair, approached them.
He was a chaotic contrast, dressed in a flamboyant clown-like costume, his hair a swirling mixture of colors that seemed almost hypnotic.
Twin daggers spun effortlessly across his fingers, glinting in the dim, ethereal light.
His expression was one of unrestrained glee, a wide grin plastered across his face as he tilted his head in curiosity.
The seated young man and the black-clad figure exchanged a brief, exasperated look.
A shared sigh escaped them both before they turned away, ignoring the lively intruder's question.
[Oh, come on now, don't be like that!] the clown-like figure whined, his tone mockingly hurt. [What's the point of being so mysterious? The boy's going to find out anyway, isn't he?]
Neither answered.
Instead, their attention drifted back to the screen, where the current Riley was still locked in combat, his aura flaring as he fought desperately to keep up.
[Tsk, so boring,] the colorful figure mumbled, twirling his daggers faster. [But I'll admit, it's fun watching him struggle.]
Despite their differences, all three shared a moment of quiet understanding.