Re: Evolution Online

"Hmmm… That mortal is here again… His time flows differently than mine and yet we meet with each other once again. This should not be possible unless the warden intervened. But why is the warden forcing a karmic link between me and him?" The man's gaze only left Liam when he was out of eyesight as he disappeared inside the academy building. Slowly, the uncertainty that was visible on his face morphed into one of annoyance.

"You dare drag me into this mess? Since when did I become someone who could be coerced into doing things? She should know that forcing me would have consequences." He did not mind the first meeting as that could be taken as fate. As for the second, things were going to be different this time around. There was a reason he decided to stay away from the Myriad Realms and the games of the gods but now the warden was trying to tie him back in after hundreds of years. He did not like this. If he lets this continue, then this will not be the only occurrence.

Unless he destroys one or two of these arrogant chosens, he might be constantly disturbed in the future to act as a guide which he had no intention of doing. It was just too bad that the person he had to make an example out of walked a cursed path that was slightly interesting. Even though he already knew the end, it would have been entertaining to see how far the mortal could walk that path before he fell. But now that path is going to come to an end in this remote place with no witness. A heaven's chosen silently fallen. This should teach that woman not to interfere with his peace and quiet anymore.

***

Liam looked at the big hall in front of him. It was completely deserted and pretty much empty save for a single stage in the middle of the huge room. On top of that stage, there was a golem standing still and lifeless.

"Ahem. I can only escort you both up to this point," Goftar said, halting a few steps behind Liam outside the room. "If you want to start the trial, then step onto the stage. Everything will be initiated automatically."

"Thanks for your help." Liam nodded.

"Yes, buddy. Thanks a lot!" Eldrin smiled and gave the guard a thumbs up. "You will not regret this." The elf then quickly turned towards Liam and gave another wily smile. "Boss, should I walk on up first and test this little thing out for you? I am at your service, Lord. Please use me."

Liam rolled his eyes. Naturally, he did not plan to do that. He did not indulge the elf's flowery words and walked ahead to directly get onto the stage.

Immediately just like the guard had mentioned the golem whirred into life.

Its previously dull eyes ignited with a vibrant glow, casting an imposing presence across the hall. The golem's voice boomed through the chamber, echoing off the walls with a resonance that seemed to vibrate through the very air.

"Welcome, challenger. The Dao Trial commences now. Demonstrate your path, your understanding, your conviction, and your mastery over the Dao you've chosen to follow. Fail, and you shall not pass. Succeed, and the gates of the academy will be open to you."

Without further preamble, the golem moved into action, its massive stone form surprisingly agile as it initiated the attack. It was a ten feet stone construct which Liam was pretty sure were commonly available stones. There was nothing unique about them. The way the golem moved was also nothing special. If this was all it had then the fight was simply going to come down to the bare basics which were stats and this was something he had plenty of.

The golem moved first and attacked which Liam used his sword to block. The attack packed a punch sure but it was well within his limit. Unexpectedly, the next second a rune lit up on the head of the golem.

At the same time, a voice boomed in the background. "Did you really think that the fight was going to be easy? That just anyone can pass the trial?" It was the same instructor who had kicked them out earlier. "Who allowed you both to step inside the gates of the academy?"

The instructor turned to give a death glare to the guard but Eldrin quickly intervened. "Who should allow us? We demanded an entry because we are entitled to one. Doesn't the academy's protocol say so?"

"How would you know?" The instructor sneered in disdain. "Heh. It doesn't matter. If you want to die, then go ahead and die." "Do you see those blood stains on the stage? They are from the era when the trial was newly introduced and every fool wanted to show off! Take a guess what happened to all of them!" The guy laughed with a malicious glint in his eye but Eldrin could only chuckle in response. The poor guy was voluntarily coming again and again in their path to get slapped without knowing what sort of a monster he was commenting about. But the guy did have good luck since this was not a straightforward kill-everyone trial floor. Otherwise…

The instructor was further ticked off by Eldrin's laughter and he snorted in contempt. "Arrogance? Only the strong can be arrogant, you fool!"

The next second, a resounding boom reverberated through the hall as Liam and the golem stood locked into a stalemate once more and this time three runes had lit up in its head.

Looking at this, the instructor's sneer faded completely. Instead, his eyes bulged out as he watched the scene in front of him with awe.

"Three runes? You have activated three runes?"

Now it was Eldrin's turn to let his mouth run loose. "Ke Ke Ke. What did you say? We don't belong here? Are you sure you don't want to change your mind?" The elf grinned as he too observed the fight closely.