352: Trial Begins

Chapter 351: The Trial Begins

White snow, endless white snow.

The moment the arrow pierced his forehead, Dick's vision switched to this white world.

"Mortal, do your best to please me!"

An ethereal female voice sounded. Dick couldn't discern the direction, only feeling a buzzing in his ears.

This mysterious method obviously came from the Snow Goddess, and the so-called Rite Trial was, to put it plainly, a stage play dedicated to her.

If you perform well and successfully please the Snow Goddess, she will let you wake up and then enjoy the sacrificial kiss.

If you don't perform well... then keep performing. You will never be able to leave this domain.

Not all gods are as great and perfect as people sing about. For example, the Snow Goddess is someone who likes to 'watch plays'.

The original intention of the Rite Trial was to please the Snow Goddess. She likes to watch people struggle in tragedy, collapsing and breaking down.

Although this sounds like an evil god, in Dick's opinion, the Snow Goddess is not considered an evil god. At most, she just has some wicked tastes.

Dick believed that the blizzard currently sweeping across the Eternal Frost Forest was not the work of the Snow Goddess.

She wouldn't create a natural disaster causing massive casualties just because she was bored. After all, most of the people who died were her believers.

Ultimately, the Snow Maiden's doctrine is benevolent, and the Snow Goddess Sect is not some evil cult.

Therefore, the Snow Goddess born from this naturally wouldn't be bad. She is considered a benevolent god with principles and a bottom line.

The more believers die, the weaker the god born from faith becomes. The Snow Goddess has no reason to do such a foolish thing.

Unless, she went mad.

Based on her current performance, the Snow Goddess is completely normal. As for why she doesn't communicate with Vivian, she probably has some considerations.

Just as Dick was thinking, the Snow Goddess's voice sounded again.

"Although little Vivian is praying for you, it's a pity. I have always been fair and just. Only this way will the Rite be interesting~"

After speaking, Dick's vision went black, and his consciousness entered an illusion.

The illusion for the first trial had the theme of anger.

...

Southern Demon Spirit Continent, the deepest level of an S-rank Underground City.

Splurt!

A sharp blade pierced through Dick's chest. His source of magic power instantly shattered, and the strength throughout his body rapidly drained away.

A suffocating feeling of blood flooding in came over him. Dick endured the severe pain, struggled to turn around, and saw Mina holding the Holy Sword of Judgment.

"Dick Grudia, the greatest Holy Knight in the world, you've worked hard on this journey."

Mina's expression showed neither sorrow nor joy, like a stage actor with poor acting skills, silently reading lines without emotion.

"W-why, Mina," Dick's eyes widened in anger, and he questioned sharply, "Why did you stab me in the back!!"

"Heh heh."

Mina sneered, pulled out the Holy Sword of Judgment, looked at Dick lying in a pool of blood, and shook her head, saying, "Because there is only one Paladin Hero."

This was Dick's seventh reincarnation. He and Mina had adventured together for a hundred years. The two went through countless hardships and dangers, and ten years ago, they both became Level 99 Holy Knights.

"Forgive me, Dick, only by killing you can I become the Paladin Hero!"

"Forgive me, Dick, my lifespan... isn't much."

In earlier years, Dick had obtained some opportunities for extending his lifespan, which was several times that of a normal person.

Originally, in a few more years, Mina would die of old age, and Dick, with his ample lifespan, would naturally become the Hero. This was a well-known fact.

"Is that so..."

Mina frowned. The anger on Dick's face had actually disappeared, especially his eyes, which were frighteningly calm.

Even though Dick had just been stabbed in the back by the person he trusted most, even though he was already a dying man.

Looking at Dick, who calmly accepted his death, Mina couldn't help but say, "Aren't you shocked and angry?"

"Everyone has the right to pursue survival. It's only human nature for you to kill me. It's easy to understand. Why should I be shocked?"

Feeling the continuous loss of blood, feeling his increasingly cold body, Dick gently shook his head.

"The bitter fruit today is all brewed by myself. It was I who chose to believe in your kindness, it was I who couldn't bear to part with you."

"Mina, I truly loved you too much. I even planned to give you the position of Hero. It was this naivety that created the current situation."

Now that the backstab was a foregone conclusion, why should he complain about others?

Anger is meaningless. At most, it's just mental exhaustion. Shouting here twice won't bring you back to full health on the spot.

Growth, so-called, is accepting one's mediocrity and foolishness and continuously improving afterward.

"Hmph, that sounds good, but would you easily give me the legendary position of Hero?"

Mina's face twisted. She raised the Holy Sword of Judgment in her hand and said sharply, "If I didn't stab you in the back, you would sooner or later stab me. This is just striking first!"

"Dick Grudia, I don't owe you anything. In the past hundred years, I have saved you countless times..."

"I gave you the best of everything a woman has, and now, I'm just collecting some interest..."

Amidst Mina's furious roar of embarrassment, Dick's consciousness gradually blurred. His failed seventh life was coming to an end.

But until the end, Dick maintained a calm expression. He no longer uttered any defense, just looked at Mina with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

Before the backstab happened, Dick actually quite liked this life.

With his childhood sweetheart, Mina, he ventured all the way from the barren region, adventured throughout the world, and finally became a high-level professional couple envied by everyone.

At least before the backstab happened, this was Dick's ideal adventure in another world. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. His steps were destined not to stop in the seventh life.

"Dick... damn it, say something! Why aren't you cursing me? Why... are you showing a look of pity..."

Mina cried. She knelt beside Dick's continuously cooling body, screaming in breakdown.

"Heh heh, Mina, I knew you still loved me. Spend the rest of your life in repentance..."

After saying this last sentence, Dick took his last breath. His seventh life ended with Mina's backstab.

In the illusion of the first trial, Dick achieved a great victory. Not only did he not collapse and break down, but he actually found peace.

Soon, the scene switched again. The second trial began. This time, the theme was fear.

...

Blue and white flames burned everything. Alice, wearing a black and red long dress, floated in the air.

She looked proudly at everyone around her, finally locking her gaze onto Dick, her face full of a smile that was worth pondering.

"Dick Grudia, the most talented Swordsman Hero in world history. Great as you are, don't you dare duel me?"

"Hmph," Dick let out a cold snort and said loudly, "Doomsday Witch Alice, you cruelly murdered four Heroes, four hundred and thirty-nine kings, and countless righteous people."

"Today, I have assembled four Heroes and their forces to form a coalition army to jointly attack you. This battle is a righteous Demon Subduing battle!"

"Today is your death day! We have already resolved to die and will definitely save the world from Doomsday's silence!"

"Future generations will remember our heroic feat! This battle will surely be victorious!"

After finishing his harsh words, Dick's figure moved, retreating behind everyone.

"Victory!! Victory!! Victory!!"

At this moment, the atmosphere was completely stirred up. The coalition army led by five Heroes, numbering a full million people, let out earth-shattering war cries one after another.

It was as if, just as Dick said, Alice was bound to die today.

"Hahahaha—"

However, Alice let out an unrestrained wild laugh, easily overpowering the war cries of a million people.

"I have comprehended the mystery of Doomsday. The world is about to return to silence!"