Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System

Cassius felt like Riddle #2 was far easier than the first one. Yet he couldn't place his finger on which one of the potential answers it actually was. On the high chance he got this one wrong, he would have no choice but to rely on the final answer to safely get him through this crisis.

Five seconds later.

In the end, he went with his gut. "Fire! That is the answer!"

The Hellish Sphinx remained eerily quiet, causing the 5th Floor's interior to constrict further.

Ultimately, a similar reaction as before occurred on her stony feminine expression. Afterward, she said, "Correct."

Cassius breathed a sigh of relief. He had several different solid guesses for that question. The only reason he hadn't gotten it wrong was because he got lucky. However, with the final riddle coming up, he had to put on his A-game face.

If at all possible, he hoped it wouldn't come down to a slaughter-fest between him and the Hellish Sphinx. Correctly answering all the riddles was vital to this end.

"Riddle 3: The Silent Traveler. This is the 3rd and last riddle," quipped the Sphinx, her voice laced with concealed killing intent."

"I pass through the hills,

But I do not climb.

I go through the valleys,

Yet remain untied.

You see me in water,

But I stay dry.

What am I?"

'I pass through the hills, but I do not climb… Some sort of animal?' Cassius questioned himself in confusion. 'No, that can't be it… "Yet remain untied" wouldn't make any sense with the following two lines if the answer were an animal…'

'You see me in water, but I stay dry… That would mean whatever the answer is has the ability to not physically connect with certain elements of the world…'

Reciting the lines once more, Cassius organized them.

'I pass through the hills, but I do not climb. I go through the valleys, yet remain untied. You see me in water, but I stay dry… Pass—that is a hint. Does not climb and does not get wet also serve as hints… Ah!'

He got it!

"The answer is: Shadow!"

The Hellish Sphinx froze.

She stared down at the accomplished human, her large eyes swirling with an unknown intent. For a second, the atmospheric pressure of the 5th Floor multiplied a thousandfold, urging everything in the vicinity to bend and fold.

Then, abruptly, the pressure ceased to be.

"Your answer… is correct," said the Sphinx.

Yet, as soon as those four simple words left her mouth, a bright golden light erupted around her body. Miraculously, she began to shrink, with the blinding golden light becoming progressively less intense.

Within mere moments, the Hellish Sphinx had already reached the approximate size of the human before her. And when the light covering her figure dispersed, an image beyond stunning materialized into view.

"My child, this one is Hellion. Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx."

Hellion's melodic voice dripped into Cassius's ears, yet merely passed as the introduction for the divine beauty adorned in jewelry. Her hair, like brown silk, was smooth and luscious, rivaling the most lavish of locks. Those slender, tan legs were supple yet slim in all the right places. Bountiful curves to die for, with a grace and nobility that bordered on holy royalty. Her eyes, a mix of browns and purples, acted as the gateway into a soul that a mortal could never hope to fathom.

Hellion—the Hellish Sphinx—the Guardian of the Gate into HELL—an unparalleled milf beauty through and through.

However, if one looked past her ravishing beauty, they would see an icy cold gleam that viewed everything around it in complete fairness. Even while looking at the immortal-like Cassius, she exhibited no varied emotions.

Unlike the frigid beauties he had previously encountered, he knew for certain that her impermeable sheet of ice was the toughest to crack.

Yet, when faced with a challenge, he took the Idle Evolution System's teachings to heart. Fearing away was simply impossible.

Concealing an anticipatory smirk, Cassius extended a hand to the woman still in the process of floating down. "My name is Cassius, the one who rides the waves of Character Development."

Neither showing shame nor hesitation, Hellion clasped his larger, rougher hand, then tapped against the ground mere inches away from the human's face. She apathetically appraised his appearance, her expression unmoving.

However, contrary to observing just his outward qualities, she peered deeper into his existence. And what she saw left her in an even more solitary state of emotionless silence.

For nearly twenty seconds, Hellion remained awfully quiet.

Then, with her swirling eyes tracing up the taller man, she stole his gaze for her own.

Unable to escape that entrancing look in her dazzling pupils, Cassius could do nothing but stand there and stare absentmindedly. With her hand still softly laying atop his, he watched her lips move, then registered the enchanting sounds that followed.

"Child, you have done well to make it thus far. But beyond this point, death is all that awaits. Your strength is insufficient. Unique aspects you may have, unusual abilities assimilated with your existence they may be, but your death is nevertheless guaranteed."

Cassius frowned.

"You can tell how strong I am? And you can also see other things? Just how much can you see…?" he asked, his voice approaching sub-zero.

Although he appreciated the beauty, power, and elegant demeanor of this Egyptian goddess-like woman, if she knew more than she should, then she would die.

And he would be the one to personally send her into the afterlife.

Hellion blankly analyzed the strangely large killing intent radiating off the devilishly handsome human. Yet, without averting her gaze, she replied, "I am but a translator of the waves of fate and destiny. I stay unrelated to the worldly part of existence. Preventing those unworthy of crossing into HELL is my sole purpose."

"You, human, are not worthy. Answer correctly all three riddles you have, but strength you have not. Several bloodlines reside within you by some miracle, yet no difference does that make. I, as HELL's Guardian, shall not permit your entry."