Stark and Sora took a moment in the Hollow Square, the last safe spot before reaching the tower.
The air was heavy, and Sora leaned against a stone bench, glancing at her hands with emotionless eyes.
The encounter with Father Hugo and Eternal Regret didn’t even seem to shake her.
But it had been around 30 minutes since they left the orphanage so it made sense.
So many [Global Announcements] happened as they were resting, meaning that the trial probably changed a lot.
“35%,” Sora muttered as she checked her infection level again.
Stark’s infection was slower, thanks to the [Blood-Stained Amulet] he’d picked up in the orphanage.
[Moonscorch Infection: 14%]
His display read, far more manageable. But Sora’s was climbing fast.
Not fast enough to actually be an issue, though, as each minute would grant you around 1% of moonscorch.
“We can’t stay here much longer. We have to get somewhere else,” Stark said. “There’ll be something out there that can help us.”
Every participant was growing stronger, and they couldn’t be the only one just sitting there doing nothing.
She nodded, standing straighter as they scanned the path ahead.
But then, out of the silence of the Hollow Square, dozens of monsters roaming around, a voice called out.
“Well, I didn’t expect to see anyone here.”
Stark and Sora turned, and there she was—a red-haired girl with a relaxed, easygoing smile, nothing like her meditative state back in the village square.
The girl from before, the one who hadn’t bothered to share her name.
“Oh, it’s you,” Stark muttered, watching her carefully.
She grinned, her red hair glowing in the dim light, and waved. “Yeah, I was wondering if you’d remember me. Chosen and Sora, right?”
They exchanged a glance. Stark had a feeling she wasn’t here by chance.
“What do you want?” Sora was the one who spoke, seemingly protective of Stark.
No one would dare approach Chosen and Sora, the number one enemies of this trial.
Everyone, even Clever, knew that angering Stark could result in getting hit by a spear capable of destroying entire cities.
So, no thank you!
“The name’s Lilith, and I’m just like you: aiming for the moons,” she said cheerfully, “You are the only duo left, everyone else is solo, so they probably all plan to kill each other.”
The ease in her tone caught Stark off guard, especially after seeing how silent and calm she’d been before. “You didn’t seem too talkative back in the village,” he pointed out.
“Yeah, well, that was me in my [Meditation] state,” she said with a shrug, “Helps me keep my skills up, tune out distractions. But I don’t mind company once in a while.”
It was strange seeing someone so relaxed, almost cheerful, in this bleak place.
Stark sized her up.
But he couldn’t trust anybody.
“Mind if I ask what level you are?” Stark said, his voice casual, but his [Focus] skill activating just in case.
“Level 136,” she replied, looking him dead in the eye. “Just enough to take down a level 600 elite boss on my own. Still want me on the team?”
Sora’s eyes widened slightly, and even Stark was impressed, though he hid it well.
A level 600 elite boss on her own?
That was pretty much like taking out a commander.
She was stronger than Stark, no denying it.
But this meant a higher chance of betrayal.
‘Flower Analysis,’ Sora mumbled, and dozens of flowers came out of the ground, stopping right in front of her ears, whispering things to her.
Stark was about to refuse the invitation.
But before he could say anything.
“She can be trusted, I believe,” Sora spoke, nodding.
“…” Stark was confused as to why Sora would suddenly say that, but he trusted her, “Alright, you can join… for now.”
But to be safe, he activated [Flow], focusing on her for ten seconds, enabling the ability that allowed him to track her every movement one second before she made them.
He then used [Target Set] from his [Focus] skill to pinpoint her location.
No way was he was letting her wander out of his sight unnoticed.
With these two things, there was no chance she could ambush him.
Plus, he always had his second life in case he needed it.
“Let’s head out,” he said after a moment, leading the way out of the Hollow Square. “We’re going wherever we feel like.”
“No problemo,” Lilith winked while making a small ok sign with her hand.
Stark didn’t know who she was, and her appearance was too sudden for his taste, but at the end of the day, if Sora said it was okay, then so be it.
Lilith was extremely beautiful, her long red hair reaching her waist, and her crimson eyes always flaring with aura.
There was some kind of tension around her wherever she went, and she was undeniably powerful.
Whether she was an ally or a future traitor, it didn’t matter to Stark.
If he got killed, he would revive and instantly use [Heaven’s Spear].
No one knew of his revives besides the one of [Crimson Healing], so it didn’t matter.
As they made their way through the eerily quiet streets, Lilith chatted with Sora, their conversation casual, almost too casual for the tension all around them.
Stark kept an eye on them, but Lilith seemed genuinely friendly, if a bit enigmatic.
There was no denying her confidence.
But there was also something about her that Stark couldn’t quite put his finger on.
On the way to their next location, Lilith showed incredible power: she could fly, use her energy, beams, magic swords, everything, basically.
Her [Qi Aura], which she got from the [Domination Talent] was something she could use to make almost anything.
[Name: Lilith]
[Domination Talent: Cultivation]
It was yet another top 10 strongest domination talents.
And of course, it was normal: this trial regrouped the strongest at their level, so no wonder.
Lilith even managed to take down a level 550 elite by herself, not allowing Stark and Sora to act under the pretext of “let me show you what I can do”.
Stark kept noting every single skill she used in his mind, though, in case they ever fought.
…
An hour later.
Their moonscorch infection was getting pretty high, and so they needed to find another safe zone.
[Most safe zones in Termina are destroyed by now, you need to find one inside of a specific structure.]
Knowing that, the trio soon approached the [Temple District], the path ahead marked by grand pillars and massive, ancient carvings.
The towering stone structures loomed over them, casting long shadows across the ground.
Stark couldn’t shake the feeling that something dangerous lay ahead.
But Sora’s moonscorch rate was at 94%, so he needed to be quick.
“I’m sure there’s a safe zone inside,” Lilith nodded, optimistic.
She was actually the only one not moonscorched for some reason.
Unlike Clever, the idea of being touched by these beasts disgusted her, and so she didn’t test it out.
“Probably, just make sure to be quick,” Stark replied, glancing at Sora’s display, her infection still ticking up.
He quickened his pace, leading them toward the central structure.
The entrance to the temple loomed before them, its doors partially opened as if inviting them in.
The air inside was still, a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the orphanage and Hollow Square.
“Just for your info, every place you enter locks itself behind you,” Stark informed Lilith, “We’ll probably have to complete a task or something.”
“Hm… no problem, I’ll help,” Lilith shrugged, unbothered.
But as soon as they stepped into the vast hall, Stark’s instincts flared.
He immediately sensed a presence ahead, something ominous and overpowering.
And then they saw him.
A massive figure knelt at the center of the room, his back turned to them, head bowed in prayer.
The aura around him was cold and merciless, filling the room with a suffocating pressure.
Stark’s breath hitched as the name and level appeared above the figure’s head.
[Father Hugo – Level 600]
A chill washed over him.
He’d barely survived their last encounter.
And here he was, praying as if waiting for their arrival.
“OH COME ON!” Stark shouted, instinctively shifting into a defensive stance, “That guy is pretty much stalking us at this point!”
Sora’s face went pale, and even Lilith’s relaxed demeanor tensed as she took in the threat before them.
Father Hugo slowly rose, turning toward them, a smirk playing across his lips.
“Children… I found bad children to play with…”
His gaze held the cold confidence of someone who knew he was invincible, towering above them in his moonscorched form.
That thing could roam through the entire city, but the first thing it did was head to the [Temple]?
Stark almost wanted to say he was a good priest, but that would be too good for such a disgusting being.
“I had hoped you’d come,” he murmured, his voice carrying through the vast hall. “You saved me a lot of trouble children.”
Stark’s grip tightened, his mind racing through every skill he had.
This wouldn’t be like before.
He’d barely scraped by last time, and Sora wasn’t in a better state than he was.
Click!
[Door of the temple has been locked!]
[There are no tasks in the temple as they have been removed for this occasion!]
“Are you serious?” this trial was pretty much toying with them.
[The only way to leave is to kill Father Hugo.]
[Good luck!]
“Stark… can we even…?” Sora’s voice was barely a whisper, her eyes locked on the massive figure.
“We don’t have a choice,” Stark replied, his voice steady.
He activated his aura, the thought of retreating didn’t even cross his mind anymore.
Not with Father Hugo standing between them alone now.
Previously, there was [Eternal Regret] to take care of too, but now, he was alone.
Lilith stepped forward, her usual cheer replaced by a fierce, determined glare.
Her aura flared, a wild, almost feral energy emanating from her as she pulled out two swords made out of blue QI.
“Well, then,” she said, her voice a low growl, “looks like I’ll have a bit of fun after all.”
Father Hugo’s smile widened as he raised one hand, summoning a swirling mass of dark energy.
Stark could feel the weight of his power, every fiber in his being screaming to run, but he held firm, focused on every movement, every second that ticked by.
Father Hugo let out a laugh, a sound that echoed through the temple as if mocking their determination.
“Come, then. Show me what makes you think you can survive, or maybe… you want to run just like last time, little rabbits?”
Stark, Sora, and Lilith didn’t wait another second.
They lunged forward, their combined auras blazing.
