NOVEL NEXT Chapter 554: Child Of Luck
As they pushed through trial after trial, it became easier to adapt to the enemy's surprise and unconventional attacks.
From stopping time, impossibly fast movement, rapidly changing seasons, to infinitely looping space—they become more and more adaptable with the changes.
Although each trial was harder than the last, their control over their strength was also becoming more proficient.
Arriving at the 120,001st trial, a new change happened.
Instead of a completely new trial environment, they were thrown into a familiar illusion rooted in their minds.
[Generating 120,001st trial, Noble Heart Origin Law.]
"Spiritual Laws?"
Looking at the place resembling a normal world, Maximus couldn't find his target.
Mobilizing his power, he came to a pause.
Although his Path of Knowledge was still present, it only applied to his mind, not to his physical strength.
Deducing how to pass the trial, he came up with a single solution: find and subdue the projection of the Noble Heart Origin Law.
However, in a world with trillions of people, it would take a long time to find his target.
"Noble Heart… Since it's a trial, I should be able to find it easily."
Just as he was thinking about how to solve the trial, a rough man tried to kick him in passing.
Following his instincts, Maximus grabbed the man's foot and twisted it forcefully.
"Argh! You! Help! There's a lunatic here!"
The man shouted angrily, drawing everyone's attention to them.
Observing their expressions, Maximus frowned.
He was the one attacked, yet the crowd seemed to view him as the most heinous criminal.
"Apologize and compensate me!" the rough man demanded.
As the scene unfolded, Maximus realized what this trial was about.
"So, I am the entity of the Noble Heart Origin Law?" Maximus concluded with a little disgust.
Mobilizing his river of knowledge, he began to influence himself, redefining the meaning of the Noble Heart Origin Law.
"A noble heart starts within oneself. Care, mercy, and love cannot be projected if we treat ourselves with indifference..."
"A heart made of stone cannot soften others."
"A heart without self-love cannot love others."
"A heart that cannot forgive itself can never truly forgive others..."
As Maximus redefined the Noble Heart Origin Law, the crowd began to turn dazed.
Their eyes, once full of judgment and criticism, softened to hold understanding.
The rough man, clutching his foot in pain, began to cry out, blaming himself for his actions.
As the trial disintegrated, Maximus clicked his tongue, still disgusted with the Noble Heart Origin Law.
"How can I, a selfish, self-centered man, offer my heart to unrelated people? Having my family is enough—anyone else is insignificant."
While Maximus cleared the trial with a trick,
The others dutifully completed the trial according to the script.
They healed the man, reasoned with the crowd, dodged attacks, and turned disorder into order. They completed the trial with noble hearts and magnanimity.
Meanwhile, others completed the trial with brute force.
Like Max, Nathan, Silvan, and Martin, they saw the trial as a battlefield.
Killing anyone who looked at them with judgmental eyes, the remaining survivors turned to fear.
Still not passing the trial, they continued to kill.
In their minds, if everyone was dead, they would have a compassionate heart—a Buddha's heart—bringing peace and silence to the world.
Fortunately, before they could go on a rampage, the projection of the Noble Heart Origin Law kicked them out of the trial.
Entering the next trial, Maximus found himself seated atop a throne, overseeing the world with his family in tow.
[Generating 120,002nd trial, Heartfelt Dream Origin Law]
"Is this the dream projected by the entity of law based on my goals? How intoxicating."
Overlooking the world with his family around him felt deeply intoxicating.
If not for the River of Knowledge protecting his consciousness, he might have fallen into this illusion, never waking up.
"Unfortunately, a dream like this is still lacking. How could a mere entity of law truly realize my dream?"
Maximus did not wish to conquer the world; he only wished to see his family living peaceful and happy lives.
Looking at the illusion of his family working hard to fulfill his dream, without smiles and with only numb spirits, Maximus could only shake his head.
Finishing the trial, Maximus moved on to the next, contemplating the progression of the trials.
If the first to hundred-thousandth trials were about conquering the elemental laws.
The hundred-thousandth to hundred-twenty-thousandth tested temporal laws, measuring the trialist's adaptability to surprise and change.
Then, the next hundred-twenty-thousand was about the test of spirit and will—the ability to think independently and resist the influence of the origin laws.
Arriving at the 130,001st trial, another shift occurred.
[Generating 130,001st trial, Thread of Fate]
"So, it's luck next?"
After spirit and will, the next test was luck.
Looking at the endless, crisscrossing roads made of thread, Maximus felt troubled.
"Finding the origin of law according to fate? What a hassle."
With his physical body and powers suppressed, Maximus could only walk, relying on his luck to find the correct path.
Meanwhile, Asha, the Daughter of Luck, slipped from the road and fell into an endless spiral.
"What happened?" Falling so suddenly, Asha felt a rush of panic.
Reaching out to grasp the threads hanging from the road to stabilize herself, Asha found her efforts futile.
"It's over… I've fallen before even reaching the 160,000th trial."
Just as Asha was about to give up, her endless spiral came to a halt as she landed on soft, silky, cloud-like threads.
"Hmm? Are you the Thread of Fate?" Asha asked, looking at a small child knitting a doll.
"You found me so quickly? How lucky." The Thread of Fate pouted.
"So cute~" Asha muttered, hugging the little girl tightly.
"Go to the next trial quickly, and don't disturb me here!"
"Why? Aren't you bored? Let me play with you!"
"Tsk, I'm just a projection. Get out of here; I still have a lot to do." The Thread of Fate flicked her head, sending Asha to the next trial.
"What a troublesome brat… Is that the one chosen by Elder Sister Destiny? Just so – so, Hmph!"