"Damn... what a troublesome skill," Lein muttered, his jaw tightening. He hated enemies who fought —silent, sudden, and deadly—especially when their strength surpassed his own.
The scene kept repeating. One by one, his clones were cut down, sliced in two by invisible strikes.
[Your Clone has died!]
[Your Clone has died!]
Lein clenched his teeth, holding back the burning anger in his heart. "Damn it! Stop!" he screamed internally, but the relentless attacks continued. He had to think of something, fast. His determined eyes scanned the void, searching for a clue.
"Hope this works," he whispered, gripping the fan tightly in his hand.
Lein commanded his clones to transform into swords and vanish back into his Spatial Ring. However, not all of them disappeared. A hundred clones remained, teleporting toward Lein using the Vortex Plate, surrounding him.
"Ready?" Lein asked the clones now standing close to him, each face reflecting a high level of vigilance. Without waiting for a response, he activated his skill (Sword Heaven Prison).
(Skill 4: Sword Heaven Prison) – Summons a sword prison to trap enemies for 5 seconds. Reduces the enemy's attributes by 50%. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
Four massive swords materialized out of the void, shooting down swiftly and embedding themselves around Lein. Upon landing, they formed a sturdy golden barrier, creating a prison that locked Lein and his hundred clones inside.
Inside the sword prison, the clones exchanged glances, watching every inch of space. Would the black tentacles return? Could they breach this prison?
Seconds passed. Four seconds ticked by with no sign of the tentacles. But just before the skill's duration ended, another clone swiftly activated the next (Sword Heaven Prison), replacing the previous one, locking them in once more.
"Heh, can't touch me now, huh?" Lein smirked, satisfied. The black tentacles remained absent, even after several moments of intense observation.
And indeed, a full minute passed, with the sword prisons rotating seamlessly, shielding Lein and his clones from further sudden attacks.
Lein stood atop the Vortex Plate, his sharp eyes observing from within the sword prison. Before him lay the void, silent and still, as though something was lurking in the darkness. He could sense the presence of the Voidwalker, though it had yet to reveal itself.
"Hey… stop being mysterious and show yourself!" Lein shouted, his voice trembling slightly despite his effort to sound brave. Fear lingered in his heart, but it was better to confront the enemy head-on than be ambushed from the shadows.
A faint snort rippled through the air, mocking his courage. Then, out of the darkness, a figure emerged—a three-meter-tall entity. Its body was pitch-black, with long, clawed arms, ready to tear anything apart. Dark energy swirled around it, forming tentacles that danced wildly, moving as if they had a will of their own.
Lein felt an overwhelming pressure crush down on him, forcing his knees to buckle atop the Vortex Plate. He wasn't alone; all his clones knelt as well, subdued by the invisible force.
"Young one..." the entity's voice was calm, yet carried a weight that hinted at millennia of existence. "What is your name?"
Lein, still kneeling, could only stare at the creature's feet. The pressure was so intense that lifting his head felt impossible, as if an unseen force forbade any defiance.
His heart pounded like a machine working overtime. Meanwhile, the real Lein, back in the trial chamber, felt anxiety creeping into his thoughts.
Without hesitation, the clone retrieved an artifact—the Chrono Crystal—he had acquired earlier.
The black crystal floated in mid-air, ancient runes glowing in neon blue along its surface, rotating slowly. Ignoring the dark figure before him, the crystal continued its orbit, seemingly defying time itself.
The ancient runes detached from the crystal, circling around it at increasing speed, generating a chime that resonated through the air.
A transparent white light radiated from the crystal, expanding outward, freezing time in its wake. Lein felt the crushing pressure ease, granting him a moment of freedom. He tried to stand, but—
Like shattered glass, the illusion broke. Time resumed its flow, and the oppressive weight crashed down on him once more.
"This little thing?" the dark figure remarked casually, its voice carrying a cold indifference rather than anger.
Lein bit his lip, panic spreading through him. "How could it fail? This is a heavenly-tier artifact..." he thought frantically, searching for answers. If even a powerful item like that couldn't affect this being, what could?
He was only a level 50 master with the Infinity Duplicate - SSS talent. Though his ability was extraordinary, it meant nothing in the face of a being far beyond his comprehension.
"Damn it, if only my talent had destructive power," Lein cursed inwardly, feeling helplessness seep into every part of him.
"Hey... why are you silent?" The calm voice returned, demanding the answer Lein had momentarily forgotten.
"Huh?" Lein snapped back to attention, recalling the earlier question. Oh, the figure had asked his name.
"Apologies, Sir. I misspoke earlier," he replied with great effort, forcing clarity into his voice despite the lump in his throat. "My name is Lein."
"Hmmm..." the figure murmured, as if weighing his words. "Did you not hear my warning earlier?"
Lein fell silent. Admitting he had intended to kill this portal guardian was obviously not an option. He racked his brain, seeking a response that wouldn't invite disaster.
"I am undergoing a trial, Sir. I accidentally entered this room," Lein answered truthfully. He knew deceit would be useless against such a powerful entity.
"Ah... a Master-level player? Are you a player?" The figure's tone shifted, sounding more intrigued.
As soon as the question left its lips, the crushing pressure vanished entirely. Lein felt light, as if standing on a beach at night, with a gentle breeze caressing his skin.
"Thank you, Sir," he said sincerely, rising slowly. He looked at the dark figure more closely.
The dark aura wrapped around the entity formed a cloak, its tentacles continuing to sway as if dancing in the air.