NOVEL NEXT Chapter 469: The Second Trial
BOOOOM!
Finally, the entire thing collapsed, sending shockwaves through the air.
The force of the impact reverberated like the detonation of an old building structure deliberately brought down by explosives.
When the dust settled, Reign squinted through the haze and saw another snake emerging from the wreckage.
This one was much smaller—only about 50 feet long—and had a glossy appearance that shimmered under the light.
Its scales sparkled like polished jewels, reflecting hints of white and gold as it coiled itself cautiously, observing its surroundings.
"Who is that evil monarch? How can someone be that strong?" the white serpent hissed, its voice trembling with a mix of confusion and fear.
"What happened to you?" Reign asked.
"I used most of my power to validate your words, and even that wasn't enough. I had to stop, or I would have exhausted myself to death."
Reign's eyes widened. The serpent, with all its power, had nearly destroyed itself trying to uncover the truth about the evil monarch.
It only confirmed what he had always suspected—his father's strength was beyond comprehension, even at his current level.
"How does that even work?" he quickly asked. He didn't care much for the serpent's well-being; his focus was on its abilities.
The serpent only looked at him and sighed, offering no answer.
Before he could press for more information, a light glow surrounded him, and his vision began to blur.
He felt himself being pulled away.
"Wait, I still have questions—" he called out, but his voice was cut off as the world around him dissolved into a bright light.
When his vision returned, he found himself standing on a round floating platform high in the sky.
Surrounding him were other platforms, each one hovering around a much bigger flatform in the middle.
'Fuck that thing... I still have a lot of questions!' he muttered to himself, frustration rising within.
But he quickly shook it off, knowing he couldn't afford to get distracted now.
As he looked around, he spotted familiar faces —the three hunters he recognized from the forest, and even Lilith.
He walked toward the edge of his platform and gazed down, astonished by the view.
"We're above it?" he murmured, the realization sinking in.
Below, the dense forest stretched out endlessly.
DING DONG DING DONG!
The sound of a large bell echoed in the sky, jolting Reign and everyone else .
They turned to look at the center platform, where a gigantic bird made entirely of flames appeared out of nowhere.
The blazing creature lit up the sky with its bright glow, casting moving shadows.
Its wings stretched wide, radiating heat that made the air shimmer.
CREAKKKKK!
The bird let out a deafening cry, like thunder tearing through the sky. The sound was so powerful that it sent shockwaves rippling through the crowd.
Everyone staggered, struggling to stay on their feet as the force of the cry hit them.
Some had to brace themselves, planting their feet firmly just to avoid being knocked down.
The sight of the flame-covered bird was both beautiful and intimidating, and it was clear that something big was about to happen.
All eyes were on the creature as they waited to see what it would do next.
"Inferior beings," the flaming bird's voice resonated, booming like a distant thunderstorm.
Its tone was powerful and commanding, echoing across the floating platforms, impossible to categorize—neither deep nor high, human nor beast.
"The next trial will measure the darkness within your hearts. The greater the shadow, the more intense the damage you will endure. You must withstand this, or die"
The flaming bird turned its head toward one of the hunters, someone Reign didn't recognize.
As soon as it opened its beak, a bright orange light shot out, powerful enough to obliterate anything in its path.
When the light faded, the hunter gasped for breath. There was no physical damage, but he looked exhausted.
"You pass the test," the bird declared, and in the next moment, the hunter burst into light, vanishing .
Reign felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead.
'This test is a terrible matchup for me,' he thought, a sinking feeling weighing down his chest.
If the darkness of one's heart determined the severity of the damage, then he was certain no one here could beat him in that department.
The flaming bird continued picking hunters one by one.
Unsurprisingly, most of them managed to survive the test.
He didn't really find it strange, considering these hunters were fighting for the survival of humanity.
Many of them might have had personal reasons for being a hunter, but at the core, they were people willing to risk everything for a cause greater than themselves.
The flaming bird gaze then landed on Lilith. She was now wearing a veil, but Reign could still recognize her by her body shape and the clothes she wore.
'That's right. She's a devil, so she must be more evil than me,' he reasoned,
Being a devil probably meant she had a darker heart than most, and that could lead to even harsher consequences.
'No, I'm pretty sure she'll die,' he shook his head.
'There's nothing more evil than a devil. They literally took the word from it.'
The flaming bird opened its beak, and the same blinding orange light engulfed Lilith. Stay updated through empire
Reign was certain this would be the end for her.
A devil, facing a test that punished darkness—she didn't stand a chance. It was like asking ice to survive a flamethrower.
But as the light faded, Reign's eyes widened in disbelief.
Lilith was still standing, completely unharmed.
What shocked him even more was how calm and composed she looked, as if the light hadn't affected her at all. There wasn't a scratch on her, no sign of exhaustion.
'How... how is that even possible?' he thought, trying to make sense of it.
But if someone like her could withstand the test so easily, then maybe this trial wasn't as straightforward as he had assumed.
'Maybe there's a trick to it?'