NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99
Veronica’s trial passed without a hitch.
But now that the intrusion was over, my expectation of returning to the starting point was completely off.
Adeladia’s sweet voice echoed in my head.
“I have been watching your continuous achievements all along. Now, only the final trial remains for you to face. I wish you the best of luck.”
‘Wait, just like that?’
Before I could even respond, I got teleported to another space.
[You have entered the Final Trial.]
“Ugh. Is this the trial location?”
The walls, floors, and ceiling were all a bright red.
The wide-open, hollow archway was disturbing since there was nothing visible ahead.
I was in casual clothes, with my armor and belongings gone.
At least unlike during the intrusion, my specs were intact, so that’s something.
Summing it up, the only thing I could rely on was my body.
[The status effect ‘Anger’ is now applied to the challenger.]
So this is how it starts.
The system message popped up right in front of me, and a passionate rage surged from deep within and engulfed me.
“Ugh.”
I felt a wild impulse to smash whatever was in sight, anything at all.
I wanted to blame other people who weren’t even here.
For some inexplicable reason, my anger flared, and I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.
My whole body felt hot.
It was as if I had turned into a bomb that could explode at any moment.
‘How did Veronica endure such a hell of a rage that could make one’s vision go crimson?’
Could it be that the name Anais was etched deep in Veronica’s heart?
Or maybe since this was the final trial, each status effect is amplified?
I knew this was a special trial, but couldn’t they have given me even a slight explanation before the entrance?
‘I’ve helped with three trials already—do I really have to deduce everything again?’
Crack.
Standing still and suppressing my surging rage, I began to feel nauseous and dizzy.
‘Anyway, I have to move. If I just hold out without progress, I might fail due to a time limit.’
Also, would it just be over with one failure?
Or would I get multiple chances like in Veronica’s trial? I had no idea.
Since I didn’t know, I needed to be careful. I’d better think that there’s only one opportunity.
My goal was the golden portal ahead.
Thud.
Grabbing my forehead as a ringing sound and headache started, I moved step by step.
I wanted to run using the mana filling my body right now, but…
Right now, I couldn’t muster even a hint of delicacy.
Struggling forward one step at a time was the best I could manage.
‘From what I remember from the internet, red is a color that easily incites impulse and excitement.’
Damn it. On top of the status effect, they even set up the trial location to be maliciously color-coded.
Ignoring the entirely red path that looked like it was painted with blood, I focused only on moving forward.
Had I gotten halfway to the next portal?
I secretly thought that if I kept going like this, I could safely pass to the next stage.
With a sigh of relief, I took another step, but suddenly a familiar figure appeared before me.
“You murderous bastard.”
“…?”
It was Isaac. Why was the dead guy appearing?
“Did you cut off your ears to make some soup? Why so quiet? Did you go deaf while I wasn’t looking?”
‘What kind of lame insults is he spouting? As if a basement dweller could come up with something better than that.’
It seems the first trial of rage had a gimmick where additional disturbances show up after reaching a certain point.
Just ignore him. I’m almost there.
Isaac, still in the outfit he wore right before killing himself, sneered at me as I started moving again.
“You’re coming out like this? Alright. Let’s see how long you can hold out.”
With that, Isaac’s figure wavered and disappeared, only for demons from my memories to appear one by one.
“Hey, Seo Do-jin. You’ve got a pretty face but nothing else—where do you think you can get a girlfriend? You need to have some self-respect.”
She was the one who flaunted her pity right after finding out that I was an orphan with no parents or money.
The harsh words I heard in front of her house from that piece of shit father still lingered in my mind.
“That’s why family education is important! How can a rootless orphan lift their head when a superior’s talking to them?”
This bald-headed manager from the crap company I joined after quitting my labor job had nothing exceptional about him. I hated even recalling his face.
There were also those who bullied me in various ways, now blocking my path.
What is that outfit? Don’t come close—your smell’s annoying.
You’re probably going to grow up and be a thug or a gangster anyway.
Look at that vicious gaze. Is that why his mother abandoned him? He’s a total waste.
The countless insults and jeers I’d heard throughout my life swirled around me, becoming invisible stakes stabbing into my heart.
“Look at him. He’s got murderer’s eyes! What’s he gonna do? Kill us one by one?”
I ignored them.
“Do-jin… it’s mom.”
My foot, which had been moving forward step by step, froze at that one remark.
Crunch.
Suddenly, an overwhelming desire to kill them all surged forth.
They stood in the corridor, all mocking me as I clenched my fists.
After quietly listening, I whispered.
“Yeah. It’s been only a few months since I got teleported, and there’s no way everything would have disappeared by now. But…”
Starting from Isaac at the front of the group, I locked eyes with each and every one of them.
“No matter how much you rant, that won’t change the fact you’ll live your life worse than I do. Especially you, Isaac.”
“…?”
“That guy who only got beaten up and then committed suicide still has the gall to talk to me about murder? You’re pathetic.”
Whack!
The veins on Isaac’s face bulged as his mouth twisted before he disappeared.
‘So getting angry makes them disappear completely? This is it.’
I stepped forward again.
Moving slowly, my sharp remarks continued towards them.
“Back then, when I was desperate for affection and had no self-esteem, I could stick to anyone and smile, but do you think someone like you would catch my eye now?”
“Y-You…!”
“Do me a favor and just take care of yourself. You smell like tar and, holy hell, thinking back I’m lucky I didn’t end up with you.”
“Ugh! This is!!!”
Smack!
Even a name I didn’t want to mention vanished into smoke.
“Bald bastard. Just because you have no hair doesn’t mean you can lose your conscience. Before you talk bad about others, how about thinking about yourself first, huh?”
The bald manager and various others began to fade one by one.
They may block my path, but they couldn’t exert any more force than this to stop me.
While I used my sharp words to make them disappear and pushed my way through, thankfully I didn’t incur any major injuries.
Only some light scratches from breaking through forcefully. It was best to avoid injuries while moving forward.
“I won’t say much. Just get the hell out of my sight.”
Whack!
With the last of those who betrayed me fading, nothing remained around me.
‘When you truly hate someone before you, anger surpasses its limit and becomes cold.’
I threw myself into the golden portal ahead.
*
Fwoosh!
Once I safely passed through the portal, the boiling rage vanished without a trace.
Now left were greed and lust. I wonder which one would come next─
“Huh?”
A familiar scent invaded my nose.
Unconsciously inhaling deeply, I looked around.
‘Wow… this is insane.’
Countless tables filled with golden delicacies surrounded me.
From perfectly fried chicken boasting crispy golden batter to mouthwatering spicy chicken, grilled beef that would finish a whole bowl of rice in one go, sizzling pork belly on the grill, and luxurious steaks…
Along with all kinds of pizza loaded with toppings, snacks, stews, and jjamppong that begged to be devoured.
[The status effect ‘Greed’ is now applied to the challenger.]
“Hah, huh.”
I swallowed as saliva pooled in my mouth and lowered my head.
Could I really resist this?
For a moment, as my overwhelming hunger consumed my thoughts, I realized something strange.
‘Wait a minute. My body has recovered?’
Some scratches I got while bursting through the crowd were now healed completely.
This meant that with each portal I crossed, my spirit was reset, treating each instance as a separate challenge.
In that case, I didn’t have to think too complicatedly.
Just like before, all I need to do is suppress the greed surging within me and reach the portal at the end.
Controlling my greed was easier than controlling my rage.
Whack!
Quickly, I gathered my mana and rushed forward.
Whack! Pow!
No matter how mesmerizing the food from Earth could be, I couldn’t stop smashing my mouth as I ran.
Crack!
“Ugh!!!”
My teeth shattered and fell out.
My jaw dislocated, and my cheeks and lips swollen—my face was wrecked to the point I couldn’t put anything in my mouth.
I paused.
Soda and cider.
Just pouring them into my mouth would fill my mouth with refreshing carbonation I couldn’t taste in this world.
Couldn’t I just drink that and leave? One wouldn’t hurt, right?
“GRAAAAH!!!”
Smack! Smack! Pow!
Would that even work? You idiot!
Tears streaming down, I ramped up my speed.
A state-of-the-art gaming computer with an AOS game screen lit up.
An ultra-large gaming monitor and the PlayStation 7.
Smartphones packed with gacha games containing insane currencies lured me in.
“Gah.”
Now, along with that, it even showed piles of gold bars and gleaming foreign luxury cars.
No matter how much these trials are based on my memories, this is pushing it too far!
If it goes on like this, they might show a mansion or private jet next.
At this point, I felt as if I could easily shake off the illusion that they all were, making it simpler to push forward.
‘The portal!’
A pink portal looked suspiciously enticing.
Without a moment of hesitation, I threw myself in.
*
The last portal was, of course, the Trial of Lust.
Thinking that, I dove in, but the situation I found myself in was far more serious than I expected.
[The status effect ‘Lust’ is now applied to the challenger.]
I’m going mad. Why am I naked?
I was in casual clothes before through the last two portals, but suddenly I was stripped bare.
As if that wasn’t enough, a group of seductive women approached from the front.
Slurp.
Stunning beauties licked their lips.
“Oh my. What should I do? My lower belly is rumbling!”
“Aww, I’ve been feeling empty, and just the right delicious-looking man appeared!”
“Wanna have a spicy time? No, wait. Should I touch you first?”
Each of them showcased their charms, writhing seductively before me.
With sweet tongues tracing my ear, they released hot breaths.
Slurp.
They lifted what barely counted as clothing off to showcase their sweaty bodies.
Everywhere, violent flesh touched me, while below, their “pillars” stood tall, ready to showcase their prowess.
“Oh my, it was large, but this is…!”
“…Wow. Mine is as thick as my arm, right?”
They quivered, dripping honey while their eyes sparkled.
‘Can’t take it any longer.’
Clap!
“Eek!”
“Don’t push me away, come here. Huh? I’ll make you feel good!”
I shoved them off and backed away.
“Don’t come closer!”
SLAP!
I pointed sharply below.
“Anyone who takes a single step closer will watch this thing get chopped off in real-time.”
“…!”
Seeing the look on their faces, they realized I wasn’t joking, biting their lips anxiously.
If it were up to me, I’d love to kill all of them and rush through the exit portal ahead.
‘Nevertheless, this is the Trial of Lust. There’s no way solving it through force is allowed.’
After looking at each one of the chaotic figures, I noticed their status windows filled with question marks.
They were certainly not monsters I could kill.
Ultimately, the only way to pass this trial was clear.
I had to reject all their temptations and reach the end.
The issue was, right now, my mind was screaming to indulge in their bodies.
That “thing” below had already started eating away at my sanity.
I needed to act before my vision went blank and I attacked.
“Just jump in! What are you gonna do if I stick to you and don’t let you go? You really think I’ll cut it off?”
“Fine. You two hold his arms, and the other three will bind him and distract!”
Ignoring my warnings, they lunged at me.
“What the hell… now you’re gonna force this out of me?”
I focused my mana into my right hand.
Suddenly, the grey mana began to ripple around my palm.
WHOOOSH─
Lumia suppressed her desires and slaughtered dozens of creatures resembling me alone.
“Whoa?!”
Yeriell gave up her happy moments with her late parents.
“Don’t! Nooooo!”
Veronica, having regressed with me countless times, proved herself by killing her past rival.
‘Ugh… even if I get castrated here, it wouldn’t affect reality, right?’
Damn it. If only I could control the blood flow going down with mana, how great would that be?
Must I really do this?
For one fleeting moment, my instincts wanted to overwhelm my rationality, but once I set my mind to it, I couldn’t stop.
I swung my hand to sever it.
Snip!
No matter how much my endurance or stamina mattered, it all meant nothing against the pain of losing that.
I sensed that if I let down my guard for even a few seconds, I would faint instantly.
“GAAAH!!!”
A beastly roar escaped my mouth, replacing human language.
Drip. Drip.
Red and translucent fluids pooled beneath me, creating a circle.
“…?”
I knelt, scraping the floor.
My blood, sweat, and even tears.
As long as I pass this trial, just take it all.
“AAAAAAAH!!!”
“Did he really just cut off his own thing?”
“What the hell… how could you waste it?”
Yeah.
Today, I brutally terminated my other half, which had been with me since birth.
“G-Get lost, you bitches.”
Nothing could stop me now.