The Villain's Story

Chapter 353 [353] Enter, Tower of Trials!

”The Winner is Sword Saint Arken!”

Harrison announced Arkenʼs victory, but there was no applause. The medics took Ezra away but there was still silence. A pin-drop silence from Arkenʼs overwhelming victory. The children in the colosseum and the other weak-hearted individuals were already unconscious due to the after-effects of Arkenʼs Brutal domain.

The Stadium lay destroyed, it couldnʼt be helped. It was where two legends fought, so it would be unbelievable if it remained unscathed, Marks of sharp winds and destructive slashes littered it, and there wasnʼt a single corner that wasnʼt cracked.

However…finally.

”YEAH!”

The silence was broken, not by a normal audience, but by an Awakened who was once a rising star, and a victim of Ezra.

That cheer was all that was needed in order to ignite the flame. Not even a second later, that lone cheer turned into thousands, tens of thousands cheered at the same time and the cheers turned into ecstatic roars of madness!

”Yeah!”

”Ezra was defeated!”

”Go sword Saint!”

”Go Sword Saint!”

”GO SWORD SAINT!”

The roars shook the arena.

Lucas, Alex, and Olivia let out a sigh. They worried for naught. Maybe it was because only Alan took the serious beatings…but they had forgotten the strength of their master. Alan was the only one smiling ear to ear. Although he would have liked to do the Honors…it still felt so damn good seeing Ezra getting his ass beat.

The rest of Humanity also cheered, because a hero had returned, and made quite a shocking entrance.

”Hmph.”

Logan grunted.

”Get Ezra treated immediately.”

Although he didnʼt know whether Ezra had succeeded or not, he needed to know! He needed to know if he learned anything about the Sword Saint! He needed to!

Logan left the Behemoth room in a rage. Henry was left with the rest of his family, and the other elders of the Behemoth guild.

ʼIʼll go as well.ʼ

He thought, as he donned his hood and left silently, No one was aware he left, he used mana to hide his presence from everyone. He wasnʼt slacking off as well. He was training as hard as he could, barely taking rests.

Before he left, he glanced at the tower and made a promise to himself.

ʼIʼll pass the tower test…No matter what!ʼ

********

[Associationʼs Exclusive room.]

”...”

[Supreme Dragon of Fire Agri praises the Sword Saintʼs domain.]

Elijah remained silent at Agriʼs words of praise. He was still recovering from the domain expansion, like everyone else.

”That bloodlust was scary.”

Elton commented from the side. Thankfully, they were shielded by Harrison and Ragnar, if not…who knows how many would have died accidentally.

”Yes…It was.”

Elijah agreed, the expansion of the Sword Saintʼs domain was still vivid in his mind. He now understood why Agri praised Arken. That domain was meant to be praised.

That domain was just as dangerous to Arken as it was to anyone else…It was his twisted form of redemption.

[Supreme Dragon of Fire Agri explains that it takes a lot of courage for one to have such ideals, courage…and regret.]

A domain that was meant to give all its power to kill the user if it deemed the victim worthy. Arkenʼs domain was based on the guilt and regret he had for slaughtering needlessly in his young days. It was his hell. Even his berserker sword, which he kept at all times haunted him, The voices that everyone heard…Arken heard them daily, every second. That berserker sword of his contained the souls of the victims of his bloodthirsty rampages, they cursed at him every second… They had only experienced it for a few seconds…But Arken experienced it all the time…

It truly was a different kind of ʼhellʼ.

Elijah stared at the tower with renewed vigor.

”Alanʼs gonna be climbing that as well huh…”

He muttered, Elton heard it clearly but didnʼt say anything.

”Iʼll clear it and get the cure for you…Donʼt worry.”

He declared. Elton just stared at him in Silence.

Eltonʼs body was rotting away due to the curse, the same was happening to Samantha. The only difference was that Elton had nothing. Samantha was being supported by the Power Of the Phoenix…but Elton had nothing but pills to kill the pain. And even those were barely successful at alleviating the pain.

He was dying, at a much higher rate than Samantha. Although he didnʼt complain about it…Elijah knew it.

”You donʼt need to.”

Elton said, Elijah shook his head.

”I need to.”

These past few months, Elton had helped the Association immensely, he had slowly been atoning for his sins.

”I canʼt stop you huh…Good luck then.”

He wished his brother Good luck.

Elijah smiled and checked his status.

—Status—

Name: Elijah Ardor(17)

Race: DRAGON

Rank: C+

Strength: B-

Mana: B

Agility: C

Endurance: C+

Charm: A

Intelligence: B

Affinities: FIRE(Supreme), Fate(?)Time(?)

Skills: Dragon Transformation, Draconian Transformation, Fire Physique, Fire Slash, GODS EYES, DECIMATION….

—

Elijah carefully evaluated his status once again, He had gained those two affinities as a reward for Clearing the Marquis Mission in Aror. He didnʼt know what purpose they had…He was unable to use them.

Agri also couldnʼt tell him what they were supposed to do…All he knew was, the intensity of those weird dreams increased when he got those two elemental affinities.

He was able to manipulate the mana of the elements…but was unable to use it for skills or get a deeper understanding of them. Something was just stopping him.

In the end, since Elijah couldnʼt access the elements deeply, he dismissed them because of that and focused on training.

He gazed at the tower and activated Godʼs Eyes.

[{GOD EYES} has been activated.]

Godʼs eyes revealed to him the information about the Tower.

[TOWER OF TRIALS: The undefeated tower of trials, constructed from unbreakable obsidian, pierces high into the skies, It carries an aura of mystique and contains within it multiple worlds, each with a story of its own, waiting to be cleared. The tower has only been 29% cleared, Beware, when approaching the Tower, and Good Luck.]

For some reason. Godʼs Eyes description about the tower.

”Good Luck, Iʼll be cheering for you.”

Elton wished him good luck once again, and Elijah left the room, on the way, he checked the description of the Sword of Sundering flames.

There was an uneasiness in his heart, maybe he was doing such things to calm that uneasiness.

This katana was precious to him, it was a dear comrade that was able to withstand his power…his flames.

[Sword Of Sundering Hellfire]

Type: Katana.

Rank: A+

Description:

A blade formed in the deepest part of a deadly and active volcano.

Its very appearance strikes fear into its enemies, and its attacks bring Hell to them.

It is a blade to be used with caution, if your affinity with fire is insufficient, maybe it will be you that will see Hell.

Skills:

*Increased output of all Skills related to the element of Fire whilst equipped.

*Increased ability to wield fire skills with greater ease.

*Increased resistance to Fire.

When a sufficient amount of mana has been applied, the Blade will ignite itself and be covered in The flames of Hell, hot enough to melt steel.

Be wary of this blade, the flames of hell are the friends of none.

When an opponent has been attacked by this blade when is activated, the flames of Hell will latch themselves upon the opponent, burning them to ash.

These flames burn intensely and are very hard to remove.

The most powerful skill of the blade.

Create a crack In space that unleashes a sea of fire, scorching your enemies alive and increasing their pain tenfold.

A large amount of mana is needed to use this skill.

Be wary, if you are unable to control the flames of hell.

They will consider you a foe as well.

******

”Still the same as always huh…”

Elijah let out a dry laugh and continued making his way through the corridors. Seeing the description of his strongest weapon gave him…Hope.

[Attention, All Participating students, please gather in the Stadium, I repeat, Please gather in the Stadium, the Tower of Trials event will soon begin.]

The voice of the announcer echoed in the corridor…and Elijah marched forward.

”I will win.”

He declared firmly.

*********

[Outside, in front of the tower Of trials.]

Multiple students, of all years, stood outside the tower and checked their equipment and items, The air was tense, extremely tense. All the well-known students were out here, with their families and guild members cheering them on.

Alan paid no attention to the others and just gazed at the tower, remembering his promise to his sister.

”Just wait Sam…Youʼll be able to live a normal life soon…”

He muttered under his breath.

Time passed, and Harrisonʼs voice echoed.

[All students! Get ready! The tower of trials is opening up! We wish you good luck and will be watching your challenges with enthusiasm!]

Alan paid little attention to his words and just waited to be admitted to the Tower. The other students bid farewell to their families, who wished them good luck. Alan had already received prayers from almost everyone…Just one person was left.

And that one person, the one he was waiting most for appeared as well, just in time.

[Good Luck.]

Sabrinaʼs voice was heard clearly through the Spatial bond. Alan smiled slightly.

[Enter the Tower Of Trials! And Do your best!]

Harrison declared, and the figures of multiple students disappeared into white light, they were teleported inside the tower.

Alan too, was covered in white light. But before he entered the tower, He had to respond, right?

[Thanks.]

He thanked her, and then his figure disappeared with the rest.

Into the Tower Of Trials.